Fred Tate

Position: Assistant Coach/Outside Linebackers Experience: Second Season

Fred Tate enters his second year on the Golden Eagle coaching staff and 10th season overall in coaching. After coaching the defensive tackles last year, Tate moves to outside linebackers this season.

In 2005, he coached Tom Johnson to an All-Conference USA year, as he finished fourth on the team in tackles, placing second in both tackles for loss and sacks.

Tate, a former defensive line standout for Southern Miss in 1995-96, came to Southern Miss in 2005, after serving as an assistant coach at East Carolina for two years under former Southern Miss defensive coordinator John Thompson.

Tate was the outside linebackers coach and assisted with various phases of special teams at East Carolina, coached the defensive line the previous five seasons and started his coaching career in 1997, coaching the tight ends and wide receivers.

He coached the defensive line at Middle Tennessee State (2002), defensive line and punting team at Southwest Texas State (2001), defensive line, punting and kicking teams at East Mississippi Community College (2000), defensive line and special teams at Jacksonville State (1998-99) and tight ends and wide receivers at East Central Community College (1997).

While at Southwest Texas State, he coached All-American Clenton Ballard, who played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and most recently with the San Diego Chargers. He coached Mark Word at Jacksonville State, who played in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs and most recently with the Cleveland Browns.

Tate was a two-year letterwinner at Southern Miss from 1995-96, playing defensive end and tackle. He played for the Golden Eagles as they played their first year in Conference USA as a founding member and helped lead them to the conference championship in 1996.

He began his collegiate playing career at East Central Community College, earning JC GridwireAll-America honors. He was selected as the team's offensive most valuable player of the National Junior College All-Star Game.

Prior to enrolling at East Central, Tate served in the United States Army in the Airborne Division. He served for five years, earned an Army Commendation Medal and Soldier of the Quarter three times. Tate earned his bachelor's degree in human performance from Southern Miss in 1997.

He and his wife, Andrea, have a son, Christian and the family also includes Darrion and Donovan Tate.

The Tate File:

Date of Birth: Oct. 31, 1968
Hometown: Hattiesburg, Miss.
Education: Southern Miss, '97 (bachelor's)
Year at Southern Miss: 2
Year in Coaching: 10

Coaching Career:

Southern Miss, 2006: Outside Linebackers
Southern Miss, 2005: Defensive Tackles
East Carolina, 2003-04: Outside Linebackers
Middle Tennessee State, 2002: Defensive Line
Southwest Texas State, 2001: Defensive Line
East Mississippi CC, 2000: Defensive Line
Jacksonville State, 1998-99: Defensive Line/Special Teams
East Central CC, 1997: Tight Ends/Wide Receivers

Bowl Experience:

2005: New Orleans Bowl