MARSHALL, Texas – East Texas will be the new home for Joshua Eargle as East Texas Baptist University has hired the former NCAA Division I and II coach as their next head football coach.  Eargle has Texas roots moving back to his home state after coaching stops in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma.

“I am very pleased to have Joshua Eargle as the new Head Football Coach at East Texas Baptist University,” stated Director of Athletics Kent Reeves.  “Coach Eargle is a solid Christian man who will motivate our young men to be great both on the field and off.  We are excited to have Joshua and his family coming to join the ETBU family.”

Eargle is very familiar with East Texas and has recruited this area for Nicholls State, the University of Arkansas-Monticello, and Ouachita Baptist University.  He has also coached in the area as the defensive coordinator for Hallsville High School in 2011 when they were Bi-District finalists.  Coming from Sulphur Springs, Texas, where he was a Texas Sports Writers 4A All-State lineman, he played for his uncle, Chuck King, before moving on to the University of Memphis where he was a three-year letterman.

Coaching both sides of the ball, Eargle has been an offensive and defensive coordinator in his young career.  This past year he was the defensive coordinator at Southeastern Oklahoma State (NCAA DII) and served as the offensive coordinator for the University of Arkansas-Monticello (NCAA DII) in 2010. 

“With Coach Eargle’s experience as a recruiting coordinator, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator, he will bring a good working knowledge of the game to our program,” stated Reeves. 

Post season games have also graced Eargle at the NCAA Division I level along with conference championships.  He has coached in four bowl games, winning two as an assistant coach at Southern Mississippi in the 2007 GMAC Bowl and the 2004 New Orleans Bowl.  He took part in the 2010 Capital One Bowl on the staff at Louisiana State University and the 2003 Liberty Bowl at Southern Mississippi.

In his first year as a graduate assistant at Southern Mississippi, he was a part of the 2003 Conference USA Championship with a perfect 8-0 record.  In his second stint at Southern Mississippi, they won the Conference USA-East Championship in 2006 at 6-2.

He has made coaching stops at the NCAA Division I BCS (Bowl Championship Series) level at Southern Mississippi (’03, ’04, ’06) and Louisiana State University (’09).  In 2007 and 2008, he coached at the NCAA Division I FCS (Football Championship Series) level at Nicholls State.  Making stops at NCAA Division II programs, he has also coached at Southeastern Oklahoma State (’12), the University of Arkansas-Monticello (’10), and Ouachita Baptist University (’05).

Under his guidance, he has had 10 players earn first-team all-conference and 17 players earn an all-conference award.  At every program he has coached for, at least one player has earned a first-team all-conference award. 

This past season at Southeastern Oklahoma State as the defensive coordinator, his pass defense was the 11^th best in NCAA Division II and first in the Great American Conference.  The overall defense finished 29^th in the nation out of 156 programs and was third in the Great Amercian Conference.

The 2001 graduate of the University of Memphis was an offensive guard that earned the Top Tiger Award which was presented by head coach Tommy West.  He finished with a degree in Exercise and Sport Science.  He then earned a Master’s Degree in sports administration from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2004.  He is married to Kristen and they have two daughters. 

What They Are Saying About Joshua Eargle

“Josh Eargle is an excellent football coach, recruiter and even a better person. His core values, communication skills, and energy will be a great addition to the football program and mission of East Texas Baptist University.”

– Jay Johnson, University of Louisiana-Lafayette Offensive Coordinator

“Coach Eargle is a great football coach who is a high character guy who can motivate players to be their best.  He is extremely knowledgeable about football and off-season.  He will do a great job at ETBU and be greatly missed.”

– Ray Richards, Southeastern Oklahoma State University Head Coach

Joshua Eargle Coaching Stops