COACHING STAFF JOSH ALDRIDGE
D EF EN SI VE L I N E COAC H HAR DIN G , ’ 1 2
COACHING EXPERIENCE: 2019-P RESE NT – LI BE RTY (DL) 2018 – L ENO I R-R HYNE (DC/LB) 2014-17 – WE ST GEO R GI A (DL/R EC. CO O R D.) 2013 – OUACHI TA BA PT I ST (DL) 2013 – L INDE NWO O D (GA)
EDUCATION: BACHE LO R ’S DEGR E E I N SO CI A L SCI E NCE S (HA R DI NG, ’12 ) WIFE: J E SSI CA CHILDREN: BRAXTO N A ND NO RA HOMETOWN: JACKSO N, T E NN.
Josh Aldridge, a William V. Campbell Trophy Award Semifinalist during his playing days at Harding, joined Head Coach Hugh Freeze’s coaching staff as the defensive line coach in 2019. Aldridge came to Liberty after serving as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Lenoir-Rhyne during the 2018 season. The Bears posted a 12-2 record and ranked No. 1 in the country in turnovers caused and No. 9 in
scoring defense, while advancing to the NCAA Division II Super Region 2 finals. Prior to leading Lenoir-Rhyne’s defense, Aldridge served as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at West Georgia (2014-17). Working alongside fellow Liberty coaching staff members Sam Gregg, Rickey Hunley, and Scott Symons, Aldridge helped West Georgia to three NCAA Division II playoff appearances (2014, 2015,
and 2017), back-to-back 12-win seasons, two NCAA Division II Super Region 2 titles (2014 and 2015), and a Gulf South Conference crown in 2015. Aldridge graduated from Harding in 2012 with a degree in social sciences, where he was a four-year letterwinner and a two-time All-Great American Conference honoree. He started his coaching career at Ouachita Baptist and Lindenwood in 2013.
FLAMES FLASHBACK: 2019 AND 2020 SEASON REVIEW • Aldridge’s defensive linemen have played a vital role in Liberty winning back-to-back FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl titles in 2019 and 2020. • With the pair of Cure Bowl victories, Liberty became the second FBS transitioning team in NCAA history to win consecutive bowl games during its first two full seasons at the FBS level. • Liberty finished the 2020 season with a 10-1 record and ranked No. 17 in the final Associated Press poll, its highest end-of-the-year national ranking in program history. • The Flames finished the 2020 season ranked No. 11 in the country in total defense (317.7 yards allowed per game), No. 12 in passing yards allowed (184.0 per game), and No. 22 in scoring defense (20.5 points allowed per game). • Junior college transfer Durrell Johnson made an immediate impact during his first season at Liberty in 2020 and was named to the Phil Steele Postseason All-America team (fourth team). • Johnson led the Flames with 11.5 tackles for a loss (74 yards) and 8.5 sacks (65 yards) and ranked No. 28 in the country in sacks per game (0.77) in 2020. • During his first two seasons at Liberty, Aldridge has had four defensive linemen be named to the Phil Steele FBS Independent All-Conference teams (2019 – TreShaun Clack and Jessie Lemonier; 2020 – TreShaun Clark and Durrell Johnson). • Lemonier finished his two-year career at Liberty with 20.5 sacks, which ranked third among FBS players nationally in total sacks recorded during the 2018 and 2019 campaigns. • Following the 2020 NFL Draft, Lemonier signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Chargers. • Along with Lemonier, three other free agent signees, and fourth-round draft selection Antonio Gandy-Golden (WR), Liberty had five players sign with NFL franchises in 2020, the most in program history. • Lemonier was also named to the VaSID all-state team and became the first player in program history to be named to the Associated Press All-Bowl Team after being named the MVP at the Cure Bowl. • Aldridge has helped develop nose guard Ralfs Rusins, who recorded 94 tackles during the 2019 and 2020 season, after recording only 21 tackles during his previous 25 career games played. • The Flames finished the 2019 season ranked No. 28 in the country in sacks (2.69 per game) and No. 31 in interceptions (12).
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