January 7, 2001

STEVE WILSON NAMED DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR AT FURMAN

GREENVILLE -- Furman head football coach Bobby Lamb announced today that Steve Wilson has returned to the school as the Paladins' defensive coordinator.

Wilson, 46, replaces Bruce Fowler, who recently accepted the defensive coordinator's position at Vanderbilt.

Wilson is the latest addition by Lamb, who upon being named head coach on Dec. 31 announced the retention of Clay Hendrix as assistant head coach and offensive line coach; Tim Sorrells as offensive coordinator and running backs coach; Allen Edwards as defensive line coach; and Julius Dixon as a defensive assistant coach.

A 1977 Furman graduate, Wilson served as an assistant coach on the Paladin staff for 13 seasons, including six as the program's defensive coordinator from 1993-98. The last two years he served as head coach at Gainesville (Ga.) High School.

"We're glad to have Steve back in fold and in charge of our defense," said Lamb in making the announcement. "We needed someone who was familiar with the Southern Conference, and Steve certainly gives us that and a lot more. He's knows our program inside and out based on his long experience here. We couldn't have added a more qualified person to our staff."

In addition to serving as Furman's defensive coordinator for six seasons, Wilson coached the program's linebackers from 1986-98. During that span he helped develop 12 All-Southern Conference performers and four All-Americans, including Orlando Ruff, currently the starting middle linebacker of the San Diego Chargers. Furman won the 1988 NCAA I-AA national title, three league championships (1988, '89, & '90) and, in all, made five playoff appearances during his first tenure with the Paladin program.

A Gainesville, Ga., product, Wilson lettered all four years (1973-76) as a linebacker at Furman under head coach Art Baker. He graduated with a degree in economics and business administration.

After a two-year stint in private business, he began his coaching career as an assistant at Buford (Ga.) High School, where he remained for three years prior to accepting his first collegiate coaching position as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Mars Hill (N.C.) College in 1983.

Wilson and his wife, Angie, have a son, Daniel, 14, and a daughter, Angela Brittany, 8.