Tony Pierce

Position: Co-Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach

One of the newest members to the Wake Forest family of assistant coaches is Tony Pierce, who will serve as co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach in 2000.

Pierce, who has more than 10 years experience as a college coach, will share defensive coordinator duties with assistant head coach Theo Lemon.

Pierce spent last season as the defensive secondary coach at West Virginia after working two years working with the Mountaineer running backs, including two-time All-American Amos Zereoue. Prior to West Virginia, Pierce served as defensive secondary coach at Pittsburgh (1995-96) and defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Delaware State (1994).

In 1992 and 1993, Pierce gained experience as a head coach at Oberlin College. At Oberlin, he also worked as defensive coordinator in addition to his head coaching duties. Prior to his stint at Oberlin, Pierce coached the defensive backs at Bucknell (1990-92) and St. Peter's (1986-87). He began his coaching career in his hometown of East Orange, N.J., serving as quarterbacks coach (1983-86) and head coach/offensive coordinator (1987-90) at East Orange High School.

Pierce earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Gettysburg College in 1983. He was a standout defensive back for the Bullets, setting a school record with 16 career interceptions. He earned a master's degree in physical education with a concentration in coaching and sports education from Montclair State in 1989.

Before attending graduate school, Pierce was an all-conference defensive back for the semi-professional New Jersey Rams in 1983 before signing a contract with the USFL's Philadelphia Stars in 1984.

In his first season at Wake Forest, Pierce and Lemon will inherit a defense that lost nine starters to graduation. As secondary coach, he will work with a talented, but young group of safeties and cornerbacks.

Pierce and his wife, Michelle, have three children - Christian, Jordan and Alanna.