EIU Recruiting Areas: Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi
Illinois Recruiting Counties/Areas: Kane, Kendall, DuPage
Follow on Twitter @EIU_FB and @Coach_TPugh
Eastern Illinois
* Hired as an assistant coach in February 2022 on head coach Chris Wilkerson's staff
* Coaches running backs, enters third year on staff for 2024 season
* Added recruiting coordinator duties in spring of 2023
* Coached 2023 Jerry Rice Award Runner-Up MJ Flowers who was second in nation in rushing among FCS freshman
* Coached Flowers who earned multiple Freshman All-American honors and was national freshman of the week one time in 2023
* Coached Flowers who earned first team Big South-OVC Football honors and was Freshman of the Year
* Coached on an offensive staff that ranked 3rd in the Big South-OVC in total offense in 2023
* Running back group rushed for 1,362 yards and 16 touchdowns with a pair of individual 200-yard rushing performances during the year in 2023
* Worked on coaching staff that helped produce a turnaround from 2 wins in 2022 to 8 wins in 2023 and No. 24 national ranking
* Coached group that had five different running backs carry the ball during the 2022 season
* Team posted back-to-back 300-yard rushing games with 339 at Murray State and 340 vs Northwestern State
* Had two individual backs rush for more than 100 yards in a game in 2022, high of 160 by Kendi Young
Prior to Eastern Illinois
* Worked as an assistant coach at Christopher Newport University (2020-21)
* Coached wide receivers and special teams units
* Worked as an assistant coach at North Central College (2013-15)
* Coached running backs and helped develop 3rd Down Passing Game Plan
* Worked as an assistant coach at Indiana State (2011)
* Coached wide receivers unit
* Worked as an assistant coach at Fordham (2010)
* Coached running backs group
* Worked as an offensive intern at Georgia State (2009)
* Assisted with coaching wide receivers
* Worked as an assistant coach at Marietta College (2008)
* Coached wide receivers and special teams
* Worked as a recruiting assistant at Indiana (2007)
* Began coaching career as a student intern at Northern Illinois
Personal
* Played football at Northern Illinois University
* Bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University in 2004
* Worked in private sector as an account manager for CDW for four years
* Native of Elgin, Illinois (attended Larkin HS)