Former Chattanooga Star Named At Richmond

It’s always good to see one of the good guys to get a good break.

The exit of Richmond head football coach Dave Clawson to Tennessee where he will serve as the offensive coordinator has elevated a good guy.

Former Tennessee Chattanooga baseball and football player Russ Huesman has been named the interim head coach of the Spiders.

Huesman was hard-hitting as a defensive back and as an outfielder with the Mocs, where he played for Bob Brotherton.

He was a four-year starter in the secondary and starred on the baseball diamond as well at Chattanooga.

I remember when Huesman came to Chattanooga from Cincinnati's Moeller High School, where he helped lead Gerry Faust's team to a 43-0-1 record and two state championships.

The personable Huesman is a 20-year coaching veteran, who is in his fourth season with the Spiders as defensive coordinator and secondary coach.

In the past three seasons, Huesman has produce a total of 13 defensive All-Conference players, including five in 2007.

His 2007 defensive unit started eight freshmen or sophomores, but ranked among the CAA leaders for much of the season in scoring defense, sacks and rushing defense. The Spiders held a high-scoring James Madison offense to just 16 points and 256 total yards in a 17-16 triumph.

Huesman spent six years at the University of Memphis where he led several positions, serving as the recruiting coordinator and offensive line coach, before leaving for Richmond. He also coached the outside linebackers, tight ends and running backs. As recruiting coordinator, Huesman brought in a Top-50 recruiting class, ranked No. 1 in Conference USA, in 2002.

Huesman, who spent 14 years at William & Mary, was the Tribe's defensive coordinator for the 1996-97 seasons. During his tenure with the Tribe, Huesman coached current NFL star Darren Sharper, who led a defense ranked second in the nation, allowing just 231.8 yards per game in 1996. In 1997, the Tribe defense was third overall in the Atlantic 10 and led the league in pass efficiency defense.

Huesman and his wife, Amy, have two daughters, Natalie and Emily and two sons, Jacob and Levi.