Liberty defensive line coach Josh Aldridge and safeties coach Jack Curtis have been promoted to Co-Defensive Coordinators, according to Football Scoop. Both will stay on staff after defensive coordinator Scott Symons took the same job at SMU, as he returns home.
Aldridge was Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze’s first official hire after Freeze was named coach in December 2018. Aldridge joined the staff after one season as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Division II Lenoir-Rhyne in Hickory, North Carolina. Aldridge was at West Georgia for four seasons as defensive line coach, recruiting coordinator, and NFL liason. Two players were drafted from West Georgia during Aldridge’s time there. He’s also had stints at Ouachita Baptist and Lindenwood.
He has been a key part of Liberty’s defensive staff under Freeze and Symons, turning the Flames’ defensive line into a strength of the team.
Curtis has spent the past year as Liberty’s safeties coach, filling in for Corey Batoon who spent the 2020 season as Liberty’s safeties coach before leaving to become defensive coordinator at South Alabama under new head coach Kane Wommack.
Prior to arriving at Liberty, Curtis spent five seasons as Tulane’s defensive coordinator, and prior to that spent five seasons as Georgia Southern’s defensive coordinator. He is originally from Birmingham, Alabama and has coaching experience at Mississippi State, Northwestern State, Arkansas State, Memphis, and Central Missouri, as well.
Curtis has served as defensive coordinator at Northwestern State, Arkansas State, and Central Missouri, in addition to his previous two stops. He’s coached defensive backs and/or safeties at all of his stops.
Under head coach Hugh Freeze and second year defensive coordinator Scott Symons, Liberty’s defense held opponents to 20.5 points and 317.7 yards per game in 2020. Those numbers were good enough for the Flames to rank 22nd nationally in scoring defense and 11th in the country in total defense. This past season, Liberty ranked No. 27 nationally in scoring defense (21.54 points per game) and No. 15 in total defense (320.2 yards per game).
