Tech hires Petri as DL coach
Sources told BleedTechBlue.com early Friday evening that Duke defensive line coach Rick Petri would become Louisiana Tech's defensive line coach.
Tech is hosting many players this weekend as the push towards signing day begins. We have learned Petri arrived in Ruston Friday night and will be around Saturday as the Bulldogs host upwards of 20 prospects in Ruston several of which are defensive linemen.
In a release today, Duke head coach David Cutcliffe announced Friday Petri was leaving Duke to "pursue other opportunities."
"We certainly appreciate Rick's efforts in helping build our program," Cutcliffe said. "We wish him the best in his future endeavors."
In 1992, Petri was Tech's defensive line coach then spent three seasons at Miami (1993-95). From 1996-98 he coached defensive ends at South Carolina. In 1998, Cutcliffe hired Petri as defensive line coach at Ole Miss where he stayed until 2004. From 2005-10 Petri served as defensive line coach at Kentucky and 2010 again at Miami. In 2011, Cutcliffe and Petri reunited in Durham, N.C. at Duke where Petri has been defensive line coach.
Throughout his career, Petri has coached several players to be drafted in the NFL Draft, most notably Warren Sapp. Sapp went on to earn NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1999. In addition to all of the future professionals he coached, Petri has been a part of some very successful defenses. In 2010, the Miami Hurricanes defense ranked among the league's leaders in pass defense (1st), pass defense efficiency (1st), opponent third down percentage (2nd), opponent first downs (2nd) total defense (3rd), sacks (3rd), and scoring defense (5th). Under Petri's guidance, senior Allen Bailey earned All-ACC honors after leading the Hurricanes in quarterback sacks.
Not only is Petri a good coach, he is also known as one of the good guys in the business.
One of the good guys> MT @Duke_FB: #Duke assistant Rick Petri has departed the Blue Devil football staff to pursue other opportunities.- FootballScoop Staff (@FootballScoop) January 16, 2015
With the promotion of Blake Baker as defensive coordinator earlier in the week (first reported here on BleedTechBlue.com) and departure of Oscar Giles to Houston, it was important for Skip Holtz to get an experienced coach on the defensive side of the ball. Tech still has one place to fill on the defensive side of the ball as it is need of a safeties coach with the move of Baker from safeties to linebacker.