NFL fans will remember Jerricho Cotchery for the 12 years he spent in the NFL as a wide receiver with the NY Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers.
Now they’ll have to call him Coach Cotchery.
After spending the last two seasons as Limestone University’s assistant head football coach and wide receivers coach, Cotchery was named the new head coach of the Limestone Saints.
“We are extremely excited to have Jerricho as our new head football coach,” said Limestone’s Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Hailey Martin in a statement. “He is so well liked and respected by our student-athletes and coaches. From coaching with the Carolina Panthers to a remarkable 12-year NFL playing career with three different teams and a Super Bowl appearance, Jerricho has brought a wealth of knowledge to our program, and we are thrilled to have him guiding our Saints forward. We cannot say enough wonderful things about what Coach Furrey did for Limestone football and we wish him nothing but the very best as he enters the next chapter of his career.”
Over the past two seasons, Limestone posted a 16-8 record and made the NCAA DII National Championship playoffs both years. The team also compiled a 15-3 record in the South Atlantic Conference and were crowned co-champions of the Piedmont Division in both 2022 and 2023.
In Cotchery, who replaces former head coach Mike Furrey who stepped down after two seasons to pursue other opportunities, the Saints get a coach who has experience both on the field and with the headset.
He was a 2x All-ACC player at NC State and was taken by the Jets in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. After seven seasons in NY, Cotchery bounced to Pittsburgh for three seasons before heading to the Carolina Panthers, where he made it to the Super Bowl in the 2015 season.
After his playing days were over, Cotchery became the Panthers’ assistant wide receivers coach from 2017-2019 and worked with talents such as Kelvin Benjamin, Curtis Samuel, Christian McCaffery and Greg Olsen.
Now the Birmingham, AL native gets to lead a team for the first time in his young coaching career. But the administration is fully behind its new gridiron leader.
“Limestone football is in excellent hands with Coach Cotchery at the helm,” said Limestone’s Acting President Jeremy Whitaker. “Coach Furrey certainly raised the standard of Limestone football, and we are forever grateful. We are now looking forward to Coach Cotchery helping to take us to even greater heights.”
A press conference to officially introduce Cotchery as Limestone’s head coach will be held soon.
