June 2, 1998
GREENVILLE -- Furman University head football coach Bobby Johnson announced today that Spartanburg native and former Paladin All-American Allen Edwards has joined Furman's coaching staff as assistant defensive line coach.
"We are extremely pleased to have Allen Edwards join our coaching staff and work with our defensive line," said Johnson in making the announcement Tuesday morning. "He was a great defensive lineman for us, and I'm confident he will instill in our current players those same high standards. His work at Spartanburg High School and the success they have enjoyed during his tenure there are indicative of his ability and potential as a coach."
In his new role, Edwards will assist Julius Dixon in coaching Furman's defensive line. Dixon recently took over coaching responsibilities for the Paladin defensive front following the departure of Jimmy Neal, who accepted the position of head football coach at Camden (S.C.) High School.
Edwards, a 1992 Furman graduate, returns to Furman following three seasons of work as defensive line coach at Spartanburg High School. During his tenure there, the Vikings won two state AAAA championships.
A four-year letterman for Furman, Edwards served as a team captain and earned All-America and Southern Conference Defensive Player-of-the-Year honors in 1991. As a freshman in 1988 he was the starting nose guard on Furman's 13-2 NCAA I-AA national championship team. In all the Paladins posted a 41-12 record and captured three Southern Conference championships during Edwards' tenure as a player (1988-91).
"Allen Edwards' addition to our staff could not be a better fit,"
added Johnson. "He is a good person, a Furman man, and a quality young
coach."