Football
- Title:
- Special Teams Coordinator/Outside Linebackers Coach
- Email:
- tigers@memphis.edu
- Phone:
- 901-678-5119
Joe Lorig’s third season at Memphis in 2018 is the veteran coach’s 22nd year at the collegiate level. Lorig, whose career includes eight seasons as a defensive coordinator and four years as a special teams coordinator, is the special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach.
In his first two seasons in the Bluff City, Lorig has fashioned the Tigers special teams into one of the nation’s best. In 2016, his special teams brought to an end what was believed to be the longest kick return for a touchdown drought in Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) history. The span of time was nearly 21 seasons, but the 2016 Tigers special teams laid that record to rest with three returns for scores, including Tony Pollard’s 95-yarder versus Temple Oct. 6, 2016, to end the drought.
The kick-return fireworks continued in 2017 with the Tigers — namely, Pollard — returning four kicks for touchdowns. For a second-straight season, Memphis rolled up 1,249 kick-return yards, the fourth-most for a season in program history. The Tigers also racked up their over 1,200 kick-return yards on fewer than 50 kick-return opportunities for the second year in a row (47 in 2016; 48 in 2017).
For the second-consecutive season, Memphis ranked among the FBS’ top-five in kick returns, coming in fourth in 2017. The Tigers were fifth in 2016. Pollard also was named the American Athletic Conference’s Special Teams Player of the Year for the second-straight season.
Although not as electrifying as the kick-return success, Lorig’s work on the Memphis kick-return defense was just as steady the past two seasons. The Tigers’ kick-return defense ranked second in 2016 and 14th in 2017. In the last two seasons, Memphis has not allowed a kick return for a score.
A major reason for the Tigers’ success on kick-return defense has been the success of kicking touchbacks. Jake Elliott, a 2016 Lou Groza semifinalist, had 64 touchbacks in his final season, and Spencer Smith and Riley Patterson combined for 21 more touchbacks in 2017.
The Tigers punting unit also has shined under Lorig. Last season, Memphis was 24th in the FBS in punt-return defense, allowing only 4.6 yards a return. In 2016, the Tigers led The American and was eighth nationally in net punting at 41.10 yards. Smith, an All-American Athletic Conference first team pick, was the league’s top punter at 45.2 yard per boot and nearly half of his 45 punts ended in fair catches by the opposition. The Tigers have not allowed punt-return touchdown the last two years.
Lorig also coaches the outside linebackers, and his group has helped Memphis become one of the nation’s most opportunistic defensive units, forcing opponents to turn the ball over an FBS second-best 60 times (29 in 2016; 31 in 2017). Last season’s 31 caused turnovers were tied for third nationally, and the 29 caused turnovers in 2016 were tied for fifth in the FBS.
Of the 60 caused turnovers, 28 were fumble recoveries (13 in 2016/15 in 2017), which is among the FBS top-five over the last two campaigns. In 2016, the 13 fumble recoveries were tied for sixth in FBS in 2016, and the 15 in 2017 were tied for fourth nationally.
Not only have the Tigers forced turnovers, they capitalized on the opponents’ miscues. Of the 60 turnovers by opponents the last two seasons, Memphis scored 33 times, including six defensive touchdowns (5 interception returns/1 fumble recovery). The defense also ranked in top-20 in FBS in turnover margin both seasons. In 2016, the Tigers were 18th nationally in turnover margin at +8. Last season, Memphis nearly doubled its turnover margin at +15, which was third in FBS. The +15 turnover margin is the Tigers’ best in the 21st century.
Prior to Memphis, Lorig served on the Utah State Aggies’ staff for two seasons. In 2015, Lorig coached the safeties after directing the team’s linebackers the previous campaign (2014). Lorig worked with the Aggies’ 2015 senior class that won 36 games during its playing career, the second-most wins by a four-year class in the program’s history.
In his first season at Utah State (2014), Lorig helped the Aggies to the second-most wins in school history with a 10-4 overall record, including a 21-6 victory over UTEP in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl. The postseason win was the program’s third straight. The following campaign in 2015, Utah State tied for second place in the Mountain West Conference (MW) Mountain Division with a 5-3 league record and earned a postseason bid to play in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
The 2015 season saw Utah State rank 19th nationally in total defense (332.5 ypg) and 13th nationally in passing yards allowed (180.5 ypg). The Aggies’ 12 fumbles recoveries ranked 11th nationally, and, all told, Utah State forced 22 turnovers.
Academically, Utah State earned recognition from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) as one of 65 institutions to receive the Academic Achievement Award for graduating 75 percent or more of its student-athletes. Lorig was a part of the Utah State program that saw its Graduation Success Rate (GSR) rank second (86 percent) in the Mountain West Conference, only behind Air Force.
During the 2014 season, Lorig coached a pair of Aggies linebackers – Zach and Nick Vigil – to All-Mountain West first team honors. Zach was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and a USA Today Sports All-America second-team pick, as well as earning All-America honors from three other organizations. Zach wrapped up his senior season with 156 tackles, including 9.0 sacks and 20.5 TFL. He ranked seventh nationally in tackles per game (11.1) and 13th in TFL per game (1.46).
Utah State’s defense finished 2014 among the nation’s top-30 in 10 statistical categories, including 12th in scoring defense (19.7 ppg; also first in MW). The Aggies also ranked nationally in sacks per game (4th; 3.57), TFL per game (4th; 8.1), interceptions (8th; 19), defensive touchdowns (9th; 5), turnovers forced (11th; 30), passing efficiency defense (17th; 111.42), rushing defense (24th; 130.7 ypg), opponents’ third-down conversion percentage (25th; .358) and total defense (30th; 356.1 ypg). Among the Mountain West Conference leaders, the Utah State defense was first or second in all the previously-listed statistical categories.
Lorig moved to Utah State after two seasons at Arizona State (2012-13), where he served as the special teams coordinator and cornerbacks coach.
In 2013, Lorig coached two cornerbacks who earned multiple Pac-12 accolades. Robert Nelson, an All-Pac-12 first team performer, ranked 19th nationally in interceptions per game (0.4), and Osahon Irabor was an All-Pac-12 second team selection. The Sun Devils defense ranked third nationally with 21 interceptions.
Lorig also coached placekicker Zane Gonzalez to 2013 Freshman All-America Team honors. Gonzalez ranked first in the Pac-12 and fifth nationally in field goals per game (1.8) and 29th nationally in field goal percentage (.833). Gonzalez’s 25 made field goals tied an NCAA freshman record.
In 2012, Lorig coached a pair of Pac-12 honorable mention cornerbacks in Irabor and Deveron Carr. The duo combined for 21 passes defended and helped Arizona State rank third nationally in passing yards allowed (167.9 ypg).
Under Lorig, punter Josh Hubner averaged a school-record 47.1 yards per punt in the 2012 campaign. Hubner’s punting average led the Pac-12 and was second nationally. Hubner earned All-America team honors, including Lindy’s (third team) and Sports Illustrated (honorable mention).
Prior to joining the Sun Devils staff, Lorig was the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Central Washington for four seasons (2008-11). During his time at Central Washington, the Wildcats posted a 34-12 overall record, won three Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships and earned two NCAA Division II Playoffs appearances. Lorig, whose defense routinely was among the top-10 nationally in total defense, was named the 2010 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Assistant Coach of the Year. In 2009, Lorig was a finalist for FootballScoop.com’s Division II Coordinator of the Year.
Lorig served as the linebackers coach at UTEP in 2007. Prior to UTEP, Lorig spent eight seasons as an assistant at Idaho State, serving as defensive coordinator from 2003-06.
Lorig’s coaching career began as an assistant at Western Oregon, where he helped guide his alma mater to the 1997 Columbia Football Association crown and an NAIA postseason berth.
During his coaching career, Lorig has mentored several professional players, including Jared Allen, an NFL All-Pro defensive end; Pago Togafau, who has been a member of four NFL teams; Jeff Charleston, who has been a member of three NFL teams; Adam Bighill, a Division II All-American who was a rookie for 2011 Grey Cup champion British Columbia; Deveron Carr, who played for Tampa Bay in 2013; and Robert Nelson, who plays for Cleveland.
A two-time All-Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges honoree, Lorig began his collegiate playing career at cornerback for Walla Walla Community College. Following those two seasons, Lorig moved on to Western Oregon, where he played two years and was a team captain.
Lorig earned both his bachelor’s degree in law enforcement (1995) and his master’s degree in correctional administration (1997) from Western Oregon. A native of Edmonds, Wash., his family includes his wife, Becky, and children: son, Tyler, and daughters, Jordan and Emma.
