GREENVILLE, N.C. – Former East Carolina linebacker Bruce Bivens has returned to the East Carolina University campus as director of football player development according to an announcement from head coach Blake Harrell on Friday. Simultaneously, Harrell announced that Bryan Butterworth (defense) and Ryan McManus (offense) will now serve as senior analysts.
In his new role, Bivens’ primary responsibilities will be coordinating the program’s life skills, academic and mentoring support system, while also spearheading the Pirates’ community relations outreach efforts. The Houston, Texas native returns to his alma mater after working at ECU Health (2023) as an experience coordinator in guest relations. He also was employed at Pitt County Schools (2022-23) as a behavioral support specialist and Seals Gasket, LLC (2021-22) where he served as a regional sales and installation representative.
A four-year starter and five-time letterwinner for the Pirates, Bivens played in 55 career games making 31 starts. He tallied 236 career tackles (102 solo) with 5.00 sacks (-26 yards), 19.0 TFLs (-65 yards) and registered at least one stop in 47 of 55 career contests (multiple 42 times).
As a senior, he earned Second-Team All-American Athletic Conference honors after leading the team with 57 tackles (22 solo), an average of 4.8 per game to stand 36th in The American. He registered 2.0 sacks (-13 yards) and 4.5 TFLs (-18 yards), while adding a pair of quarterback hurries. That season, Bivens helped the Pirates earn a bid to the 2021 Military Bowl following a 7-5 overall record (5-3 in league play).
Bivens, a two-time ECU Honor Roll member, received his undergraduate degree in interpersonal communications in the spring of 2021.
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