Jack Curtis

SAFETIES COACH EVANGEL, ‘87

COACHING EXPERIENCE:

2021-PRESENT – LIBERTY (S) 2016-20 – TULANE (DC/DB) 2011-15 – GEORGIA SOUTHERN (DC/DB) 2010 – CENTRAL MISSOURI (DC) 2009 – MEMPHIS (S) 2002-08 – ARKANSAS STATE (DC/DB) 1994-2001 – NORTHWESTERN STATE (DB 1994-98; DC – 1999-01) 1993 – WESTERN NEW MEXICO (SEC.) 1989-92 – MISSISSIPPI STATE (1989-90 GA; 1991-92 VOLUNTEER) 1988 – HENDERSON STATE (GA) 1987 – EVANGEL UNIVERSITY (STUDENT)

EDUCATION: BACHELOR’S DEGREE (EVANGEL, ’87); MASTER’S DEGREE IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION (HENDERSON STATE, ’90) WIFE: MICHELLE CHILDREN: CAROLINA AND GEORGANNA HOMETOWN: BIRMINGHAM, ALA.

Jack Curtis became the newest member of the Flames’ coaching staff in February 2021, joining the staff as the team’s safeties coach.

Curtis brings a wealth of coaching experience with him to Liberty that spans more three decades at a variety of schools: Mississippi State (1989-92), Western New Mexico (1993), Northwestern State (1994-2001), Arkansas State (2002-08), Memphis (2009), Central Missouri (2010), Georgia Southern (2011-15), and Tulane (2016-20). Curtis’ defensive schemes have helped his teams make 12 postseason appearances during his coaching career at both the FCS and FBS levels, including five bowl games (1991 Liberty Bowl, 2005 New Orleans Bowl, 2015 GoDaddy.com Bowl, 2018 AutoNation Cure Bowl, and the 2020 Armed Forces Bowl). During his most recent coaching stop at Tulane, Curtis coached 12 players who were named to the America Athletic Conference (AAC) all-conference teams, four who were selected in the NFL Draft and All-American cornerback Parry Nickerson (2017). Curtis’ 2018 defensive unit proved to be one of the best in the AAC and helped the Green Wave finish the year with a win over Louisiana in the AutoNation Cure Bowl.

Tulane’s strong pass rush sparked the Green Wave’s defensive efforts in 2018, posting 41 sacks. The Green Wave’s 3.15 sacks per game led the AAC and ranked eighth nationally. In 2017, Curtis’ defense led the AAC and ranked 15th in the country in red zone defense. Additionally, the Green Wave ranked fifth in the conference and 35th in the country with 13 interceptions. During his first season at Tulane in 2016, the team’s defense was among the best in the FBS, ranking second in fumble recoveries (15). Curtis came to Tulane after spending five seasons at Georgia Southern as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. During his five seasons at GSU, five Eagles - Darius Eubanks, Brent Russell, Laron Scott, Edwin Jackson, and J.J. Wilcox - worked their way onto NFL rosters and AllAmerica accolades poured in for Dion DuBose, Russell, Scott, Roderick Tinsley, and Wilcox. Curtis helped the Eagles win a Southern Conference championship in 2011, his first year in Statesboro, another in 2012 and the 2014 Sun Belt Crown during the Eagles’ first season at the FBS level.

During Curtis’ final season at Georgia Southern, his defense was one of the nation’s best units. The Eagles led the Sun Belt in rushing defense (130.9) and ranked second in the conference and 24th nationally in total defense (338.1), second and 12th in the country in turnovers gained (27) and interceptions (17), fourth and 43rd nationally in passing yards allowed (207.2). Curtis’ defense played a key role in leading the Eagles to a 9-4 overall record and to a convincing 58-27 victory over Bowling Green in their first-ever bowl game in the GoDaddy.com Bowl. Curtis came to Georgia Southern after one season as the defensive coordinator at Central Missouri. Central Missouri posted a program-best 11 wins and finished the 2010 season with a No. 5 ranking, the highest in Mules’ history. Curtis arrived at Central Missouri following a year at Memphis and seven years at Arkansas State. During Curtis’ tenure at Arkansas State, the Red Wolves ranked in the top 30 in the country in pass defense four times and in the top 50 in total defense five times. His switch to a 4-3 defensive scheme was also key to the Red Wolves’ 2005 Sun Belt championship season and their first-ever appearance in a bowl game. Prior to his time at Arkansas State, Curtis spent eight years on the defensive staff at Northwestern State, including the last three as defensive coordinator.

Northwestern State’s players thrived under Curtis’ direction, most notably All-American defensive backs Jermaine Jones and Tony Joe Maranto. Jones, a cornerback, was named Southland Conference Player of the Year in 1998, and Maranto was selected as 1997 Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year. During those eight seasons, the NSU defense produced 18 All-Sun Belt honorees and two Sun Belt Defensive Players of the Year. Curtis coached six first-team All-Americans and nine players who were selected in the NFL draft. More than a dozen of his former players signed with NFL teams. A first-team all-state defensive back at Silver City High School in New Mexico, Curtis played three years at Evangel University (1984-86) before injuries cut his collegiate football career short. He began his coaching career in what would have been his senior year as a student coach for the Crusaders (1987). After graduation Curtis accepted a position as a graduate assistant coach at Henderson State University and earned his master’s degree in physical education in 1990. He moved to Starkville, Miss., where a graduate assistant coaching position at Mississippi State allowed him to begin his specialist’s degree in educational leadership and work with the Bulldogs’ coaching staff. Curtis remained as a volunteer coach from 1991 through August of 1992 and worked with the Bulldogs’ defensive backs. Western New Mexico hired Curtis as its secondary coach in 1993. He returned to Silver City, N.M. and helped lead the Mustangs to a 7-3 record, the NAIA playoffs, and a No. 3 NAIA final national ranking. Curtis’ defense led the nation with 29 interceptions and free safety Chris Edmond snatched 13 to lead the nation in that category. Born in Birmingham, Ala., Curtis grew up in the South before his family moved to New Mexico where he attended high school. He is married to the former Michelle Weser of Dumas, Arkansas, and they have two daughters, Carolina and Georganna.