Ryan Pugh begins his first season as Southern's offensive line coach and run game coordinator. He comes to the bluff after serving as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Troy University.
A four-year starter and All-American at Auburn, Pugh joined the Troy staff following one season as the offensive line coach at BYU in addition to coaching stops at LSU, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, Auburn and UT-San Antonio.
In his first season at Troy, the Trojans topped the 500-yard mark in total offense on six different occasions to tie the program’s DI record and scored 35-plus points eight times; the second most in program history and fourth most in Sun Belt Conference history. The Trojans finished ninth nationally in passing offense (313.2), 25th in scoring offense (33.8) and 18th in total offense (456.3). Pugh was nominated for the Broyles Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top assistant coach.
Quarterback Kaleb Barker, just 331 days removed from an ACL injury, put together one of the best seasons in Troy history. Barker finished third nationally in completions per game (24.92), fifth in yards per game (302.3), fourth in 300-yard passing games (6) and 14thin touchdown passes (30). Among the Troy all-time greats to play the position, Barker finished third in touchdown passes and passing yards (3,628) and fourth in completions (299). Both Barker and receiver Kaylon Geiger were named to the All-Sun Belt First Team and Geiger was the league’s Newcomer of the Year.
J.L. Gaston (second team), Kirk Kelley (third team) and Dylan Bradshaw (honorable mention) were all named to the All-Sun Belt Team from the offensive line.
In his first season at BYU, the Cougars improved their scoring output by more than 10 points per game, their rushing total by more than 20 yards per game and their total offensive output by more than 39 yards per game. BYU finished 35th nationally with 27 rushing touchdowns on the season after finding the end zone just 12 times on the ground before Pugh's arrival. Additionally, center James Empey earned Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America honors, Brady Christensen earned Freshman All-America (second team) honors and tackle Austin Hoyt was named to the Phil Steele All-Independent Team.
Prior to joining the staff at BYU, Pugh spent the previous two seasons at UTSA coaching the offensive line. Under Pugh, the Roadrunner offensive line led the way for a unit that scored a program-best 379 points en route to the school’s first bowl game in history, the 2016 New Mexico Bowl.
In 2015, Pugh coached at LSU with the offensive line. The Tigers went 9-3 and finished No. 16 nationally. The offensive line blocked for a running game ranked seventh nationally and tops in the SEC at 256.8 yards per game.
Pugh spent the 2014 season at Cincinnati as a graduate assistant. He helped tutor first-team all-conference selections offensive tackle Eric Lefeld and offensive guard Parker Ehlinger as the Bearcats went 9-4. Prior to Cincinnati, Pugh was at Virginia Tech in 2013 and helped the Hokies earn another bowl trip and an 8-5 overall record.
Pugh started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Auburn, in 2012. Pugh helped eventual Rimington Trophy winner Reese Dismukes and 2014 NFL Draft second overall pick offensive tackle Greg Robinson.
A four-year letterwinner at Auburn from 2007-2010, Pugh earned All-America honors as a senior and was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy. He was a three-time All-SEC selection and was the starting center for the Tigers’ 2010 national championship team.
Pugh was also an academic award winner as a four-time SEC Academic All-Conference selection, CoSIDA Academic All-District selection and a Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award finalist in 2010. He signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2011.
A native of Hoover, Alabama, Pugh graduated cum laude with his bachelor’s degree in building science from Auburn in 2012. He is married to the former Cathey Lee Dalton and the couple has two daughters, Etta Graceyn and Ellen James.
