University of Memphis Athletics
Chris Rumph Hired As Assistant Football Coach
Jul 03, 2003 | Football
July 3, 2003
Chris Rumph, who coached the defensive backs at South Carolina State University during the 2002 season, has been hired as the outside linebacker coach for the University of Memphis in 2003. Rumph joined Tommy West's staff during the summer of 2003 and will be responsible for the Tiger outside linebackers during the season. He replaced Tim Banks on the Memphis staff. "I am very pleased that Chris has decided to join the staff at the University of Memphi," said West. "I coached Chris at the University of South Carolina and I know that he is a dedicated and hard working individual who sees each task through until completion. He is a welcomed and important addition to the football staff." After a distinguished career as a high school coach, Rumph joined the staff at South Carolina State University for the 2002 season and worked with the safeties and corners for the Bulldogs. Prior to joining the staff at South Carolina State, Rumph served as the head football coach at Calhoun County High School in St. Matthews, South Carolina. In addition to his duties as head coach, he also served as offensive coordinator and quarterback/running backs coach at Calhoun County High. Rumph worked as a graduate assistant coach at the University of South Carolina in the spring of 1997 prior to being named the head coach at Calhoun County High. He assisted the linebacker coach and helped prepare and coordinate recruiting weekends. Rumph was a four-year football letterman for the University of South Carolina from 1990-94. He first appeared as a redshirt freshman at outside linebacker and was credited with 16 tackles and one quarterback sack for the season. During the 1992 campaign, Rumph played in nine contests at outside linebacker as a sophomore and registered 32 tackles. His lone start as a sophomore as against Clemson. As a junior, the St. Matthews, SC, native logged 41 tackles as a part-time starter. He started the Georgia and Clemson games and turned in stellar efforts against East Carolina and Mississippi State. Rumph caused two fumbles and recovered one in the East Carolina contest and was credited with six tackles, one quarterback sack and pass breakup against the Bulldogs. In his final year of collegiate eligibility, Rumph ranked as the Gamecocks' ninth-leading tackler with a career high 52 total stops in his 11 games played. He was the starter in 10 contests that season and registered three fumble recoveries, three pass breakups, four tackles for lost yardage and six quarterback sacks in helping his team receive a bid to the Carquest Bowl. The Gamecocks won their first ever bowl victory in the 1995 Carquest Bowl. Rumph received his Bachelor of Science degree in Retail Management from South Carolina in 1994. Prior to signing with the University of South Carolina, Rumph played prep football at Calhoun County High School in St. Matthews and led his team in tackles as a junior and senior. Playing for coach Stan Godfrey, Rumph received all-area honors as a senior.
