Charlie Strong

Charlie Strong
Name	Charlie Strong
Birth date	July 1, 1960
Birth place	Batesville, Arkansas, United States
Alma mater	University of Central Arkansas
Player positions	Linebacker
Coach years	1983–2022
Coach teams	Central Arkansas Bears football, Millsaps Majors football, Ole Miss, New Orleans Saints, Tulane, Louisville, Texas, South Florida, Arizona, UTSA

Charlie Strong (born July 1, 1960) is an American football coach and former linebacker known for leadership at collegiate programs including Louisville Cardinals, Texas Longhorns, and South Florida Bulls. A protégé of Urban Meyer-era systems and a veteran of both NFL and NCAA ranks, Strong built a reputation for program rebuilding, player development, and recruiting across the SEC, AAC, and Big 12. His career bridges high school roots, Division II playing experience, and major-conference head coaching.

Early life and playing career

Born in Batesville, Arkansas, Strong played high school football in Arkansas before earning a scholarship to the University of Central Arkansas where he was a three-year starter at linebacker. At Central Arkansas he competed in the Gulf South Conference and played under coaches who emphasized physical defense and fundamentals. After finishing his collegiate playing career in the early 1980s, Strong transitioned directly into coaching at his alma mater, beginning a trajectory that would include stops in the Southeastern Conference, Conference USA, and several Division I FBS programs.

Coaching career

Strong’s early coaching positions included graduate assistant and position coach roles at Central Arkansas Bears football and Millsaps, followed by assistant coaching assignments at Ole Miss and in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints. He served as a defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Tulane before earning a coordinator role at Louisville, where his defenses contributed to conference championships and major bowl appearances. Strong’s profile rose through collaborations with prominent figures such as Bobby Petrino, Mark Stoops, and contemporaries in coaching networks spanning the Big East Conference and the ACC. His résumé includes recruiting work across Texas, Florida, Louisiana, and the Midwest, and familiarity with postseason games including the Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and various New Year's Six bowl games.

Head coaching tenures

Strong’s first major head coaching appointment came at Louisville Cardinals, where he succeeded a staff and inherited a roster that he molded into a conference contender and bowl participant, elevating the program’s standing within the Big East Conference. In 2013 he was hired as head coach of the Texas Longhorns, becoming the first African American head coach in program history; during his tenure he navigated the program through the competitive landscape of the Big 12 Conference and the recruiting arms race involving Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State. After leaving Texas, Strong accepted the head coaching role at the South Florida Bulls, seeking to rebuild a roster within the American Athletic Conference against rivals such as Memphis and the Cincinnati. Later career moves included staff roles and advisory positions with programs like the Arizona staff and the UTSA Roadrunners, contributing veteran leadership during program transitions and conference realignments.

Coaching philosophy and style

Strong’s coaching philosophy emphasizes physicality, discipline, and character development, drawing from traditions found at Central Arkansas, Ole Miss, and pro influences from the New Orleans Saints. Defensively, his schemes prioritize gap integrity, tackling fundamentals, and situational preparation suitable for matchups versus offenses from the Big 12, SEC, and AAC. As a recruiter he focused on talent pipelines in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, and the Midwest, building relationships with high school coaches, PrepStar-level programs, and National Signing Day stakeholders. Strong is known for staff development, mentoring assistants who later became coordinators and head coaches in conferences including the ACC, Big Ten Conference, and Pac-12 Conference.

Honors and awards

During his tenure he earned recognition for team turnaround efforts, bowl game appearances, and conference awards tied to on-field improvement and academic progress measures under NCAA governance. Individual honors have included coach-of-the-year considerations during seasons of marked progress at Louisville and national attention for historic hires while at Texas. His teams participated in prominent postseason matchups involving the Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and other major bowl committees, contributing to institutional milestones and alumni engagement.

Personal life and legacy

Strong is noted for community engagement and advocacy for player welfare, working with university athletic departments, alumni associations, and youth programs across cities like Austin, Louisville, and Tampa. His legacy includes breaking barriers as a high-profile African American head coach at a flagship public university, influencing diversity conversations within coaching circles that include leaders from the NFL Coaches Association and the American Football Coaches Association. Former players and assistants have gone on to roles at institutions such as Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State, and LSU, reflecting Strong’s imprint on contemporary collegiate football programs and coaching trees.

Category:1960 births Category:Living people Category:American football linebackers Category:College football head coaches