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Zac Etheridge

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Zac Etheridge
Current position
TitleDefensive backs coach
TeamHouston
ConferenceBig 12
Biographical details
Born (1988-07-06) July 6, 1988 (age 36)
Troy, Alabama, U.S.
Playing career
2007–2010Auburn
Position(s)Safety
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2012Penn State (GA)
2013–2014Georgia Tech (GA)
2016–2017Western Carolina (DB/OLB)
2018Louisiana (DB)
2019–2020Houston (DB)
2021–2023Auburn (S)
2024–presentHouston (DB)

Zac Etheridge (born July 6, 1988) is an American football coach and former player who currently serves as the defensive backs coach at Houston. As a player, he was a four year starter at safety for Auburn, as well as a team captain on their 2010 National Championship team.

High school career

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Etheridge attended Charles Henderson High School in Troy, Alabama.[1] He initially played basketball and baseball before ultimately deciding to focus on football.[2] Etheridge grew up watching Auburn and Alabama football and began to dream of playing for Auburn after watching the programs 2004 team and becoming enamored with the programs sense of "family and tradition".[2] Described as scrawny, Etheridge originally struggled in gaining attention from major programs but received an offer from Auburn after attending a camp ran by the team.[2] On August 14, 2005, he would commit to play college football at Auburn University.[2]

College career

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Etheridge would make an immediate impact at Auburn, starting 12 out of 13 games as a freshman in 2007 and earning Freshman All-American honors with 65 tackles.[3] Etheridge remained a strong contributor for the Tigers as a sophomore, recording 75 tackles and one interception.[4][5] In his junior season he suffered a neck injury while attempting a tackle in a game against Ole Miss.[6][7] Following the injury he lacked control over his body and was ultimately diagnosed with torn neck ligaments and a broken vertebrae.[8][6] The injury threatened to end Etheridge's playing career but he would return to the field for his senior season in 2010 after completing 9 months of physical therapy.[6][9] In 2010, he was named a team captain, started all 14 games and would have three interceptions on the season including one in the first quarter of the Tigers national championship victory over Oregon.[9][10] In 2012, Etheridge was awarded the James Owens Courage Award, which is awarded to an Auburn player who demonstrates "courage in the face of adversity".[11]

Coaching career

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Etheridge began his coaching career in 2012 when Bill O'Brien hired him as a graduate assistant at Penn State.[4] He would then serve in the same role for two seasons at Georgia Tech before being hired by Western Carolina as a defensive backs and outside linebackers coach.[12] In 2018, Etheridge worked as the defensive back coach at Louisiana. Following two seasons as the defensive backs coach at Houston, Etheridge returned to his alma mater in 2021.[3] In 2022, following the firing of Bryan Harsin for Hugh Freeze it was announced that Etheridge would remain on the new staff, making him and running backs coach Cadillac Williams the only coaches retained by Freeze.[9][13][14]

References

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  1. ^ Staff Reports (August 3, 2008). "CHHS graduate Zac Etheridge enters his sophomore year as Auburn's strong safety". The Troy Messenger. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Han, Giana; Goldman, Laura (August 27, 2021). "From Auburn player to Auburn coach, Zac Etheridge comes 'full circle'". al. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Vitale, Josh. "Former Auburn football standout Zac Etheridge returns as cornerbacks coach". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  4. ^ a b junny (March 28, 2012). "Zac Etheridge To Join Penn State Coaching Staff". Black Shoe Diaries. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  5. ^ "Zac Etheridge College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Woodberry, Evan (October 27, 2010). "A year after injury, feel-good tale of Zac Etheridge and Rodney Scott persists". al. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  7. ^ Duarte, Joseph (October 30, 2019). "10 years later, Zac Etheridge thankful after 'scariest part of my life'". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  8. ^ Schlabach, Mark (January 7, 2011). "Zac Etheridge relishes second chance". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c Vitale, Josh. "Auburn football's Zac Etheridge confirms he's being retained on Hugh Freeze's staff". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  10. ^ King, Nathan. "'No puppies allowed': Inside Zac Etheridge's vision as recruiter, teacher". AuburnUndercover & ITAT. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  11. ^ Erickson, Joel A. (September 5, 2013). "Former Auburn safety Zac Etheridge will receive James Owens Courage Award Saturday". al. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  12. ^ Crepea, James (April 9, 2016). "Ex-Auburn DB Zac Etheridge hired at Western Carolina". al. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  13. ^ Samra, Steve (February 12, 2023). "Hugh Freeze assesses the value of having former players on staff". On3. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  14. ^ Ferguson, Justin. "Keeping Zac Etheridge was a no-brainer, and it's already paid off in a big way". www.auburnobserver.com. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
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