Josh Aldridge has been named East Carolina’s new defensive coordinator according to an announcement by head coach Blake Harrell Wednesday afternoon.
His acceptance to lead the Pirates’ defense ends a two-year stay at Auburn (2023-24). Serving as the defensive edge coach in 2024, he was part of a staff that finished among the FBS leaders (Top 31) in first down defense (21st/213), redzone defense (28th/78.4 pct.), rush defense (28th/117.8 ypg), scoring defense (31st/21.3 ppg) and total defense (31st/330.8 ypg).
“I am excited about the addition of Coach (Josh) Aldridge to our staff,” Harrell said. “During the process, we were looking for someone that we had familiarity with, but also someone different who can challenge our players. Coach Aldridge’s philosophy, hard-nosed playing style and beliefs align with our staff. He is a forward thinker when it comes to defensive side of the ball as well as recruiting student-athletes. We are excited to welcome Josh and his family to Pirate Nation.”
During his first year with the Tigers, Aldridge worked with the linebacking corps and helped the program to a 6-6 regular season record and an appearance in the 2023 Music City Bowl against Maryland. The Tigers defensive unit stood among FBS leaders in 3rd down defense (16th/0.317), first down defense (23rd/223), defensive touchdowns (29th/two) and redzone defense (31st/79.5 pct.).
Aldridge was officially hired at Auburn on Dec.23, 2022 as the linebacker’s coach. A William V. Campbell Trophy Award semifinalist during his playing days at Harding University, Aldridge spent the previous four seasons at Liberty where he served as a defensive coach, including co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2022.
Aldridge was the Flames’ defensive line coach his first three seasons before being promoted to co-defensive coordinator shortly after the 2021 season where he was a Broyles Award nominee. During the 2022 season, Aldridge also coached Liberty’s linebackers and was named the interim head coach for the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl against Toledo.
In 2021, Aldridge’s defense was first nationally in team tackles for loss, fourth in team sacks, 15th in passes intercepted, 19th nationally in third down defense and 25th in first down defense. Defensive end Durrell Johnson led the nation in tackles for loss (22.5) and was tied for third in the country in fumbles recovered (three). Aldridge also served as interim head coach in Liberty’s bowl game.
Liberty finished the 2021 season ranked No. 6 in the country in passing yards allowed (180.3 ypg), No. 11 in red zone defense (72.5 pct.), total defense (320.2 ypg), No. 14 in tackles for loss (7.1 pg), No. 24 in scoring defense (21.5 ppg) and No. 28 in sacks (2.85 pg).
Under Aldridge’s tutelage, Johnson made an immediate impact during his first season at Liberty in 2020 and was named to the Phil Steele All-America fourth team. Johnson led the Flames with 11.5 tackles for a loss and 8.5 sacks.
Jessie Lemonier, another Aldridge product, 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.
Aldridge also helped develop nose guard Ralfs Rusins, who recorded 94 tackles during the 2019 and 2020 seasons, after recording only 21 tackles during his previous 25 career games played.
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).
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.
A native of Jackson, Tenn., 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. He and his wife, Jessica, have two children, Braxton and Nora.
Check out Pirate Radio
Website | Facebook | X (formerly Twitter) | Instagram | YouTube