JOE LORIG
Special Teams Coordinator / Nickels
Joe Lorig returned to the Pacific Northwest to join Dan Lanning’s inaugural staff at Oregon as the special teams coordinator and nickels coach on January 3, 2022.
The Edmonds, Wash., native came back to the West Coast after spending the previous three seasons as the special teams coordinator while working with various defensive positions. Lorig has a long coaching history that includes stops at Memphis, Utah State, Arizona State, and multiple FCS and Division II schools.
"Joe has a proven track record of coaching special teams,” Lanning said at the time of the hiring. “His units have twice ranked No. 1 nationally in special teams efficiency, and Joe is also connected with many of the high school coaches throughout the state of Oregon. He has an affinity for this part of the country, and it's just very exciting to be able to attract a coach of this caliber to our staff.”
Prior to joining the Penn State staff, Lorig coached special teams and outside linebackers for three seasons at Memphis. He started his career at his alma mater, Western Oregon, before spending seven years at Idaho State, a season at UTEP and three years as the defensive coordinator at Central Washington.
Lorig began his collegiate playing career at cornerback for Walla Walla CC where he was a two-time All-Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges honoree. Following those two seasons, he moved on to Western Oregon, where he played two years and was a team captain.
Penn State (2019-21)
Lorig’s time on the Penn State staff featured a pair of dynamic returners and several All-Big Ten honorees on special teams and in his position groups. The All-Big Ten teams featured a Penn State kick or punt returner in all three years Lorig was in Happy Valley and he also coached outside linebacker Brandon Smith to a pair of all-league selections. Lorig became the outside linebackers coach in 2020 and added the nickel position for the 2021 season.
In 2021, Lorig coached Jordan Stout to Big Ten Punter of the Year and second-team All-America honors. Stout was a Ray Guy award finalist who earned Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week recognition four times during the season. Jahan Dotson also earned third-team All-Big Ten recognition as a punt returner after averaging 24.6 yards per punt return, a school record.
Defensively, outside linebacker Brandon Smith earned a third-team All-Big Ten selection after finishing second on the team in tackles (81) and TFL (9.0). He was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after racking up 10 tackles with a TFL and a pass breakup in the Nittany Lions win over Auburn.
Special teams were a strength for Penn State in 2020. The Nittany Lions were one of four Power Five schools to have a kick and punt return touchdown. Dotson was named honorable mention All-Big Ten after being one of three players in the nation with two punt returns longer than 50 yards, including an 81-yard runback for a touchdown.
In 2019, three of Lorig’s specialists earned earned All-Big Ten honorable mention laurels: punter Blake Gillikin, kick returner KJ Hamler and kicker Jake Pinegar. The Nittany Lions’ special teams unit was ranked first among Power Five schools in special teams efficiency and tied for second nationally overall according to ESPN.com
Memphis (2016-18)
Lorig’s first job east of the Mississippi came at Memphis, where he was the special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach for three seasons under coach Mike Norvell. During those three seasons, Memphis did not allow a single kickoff or punt return touchdown and the Tigers ranked in the top-20 nationally in kick return yardage allowed each season.
Defensively, Lorig coached outside linebackers on a defense that forced 81 turnovers in a three-year span, which was the fourth-most in the FBS. Memphis won the AAC West Division and advanced to the AAC Championship game in 2017 and 2018.
In 2018, Memphis ranked 14th nationally and 2nd in the American in kick return defense, allowing just 17.88 yards per return. The Tigers also finished at No. 19 in the country with three blocked kicks. Lorig’s outside linebacker group also helped the team rank tenth in the nation with 104 tackles for loss.
Lorig mentored two-time AAC Special Teams Player of the Year Tony Pollard in 2016 and 2017. Pollard tied an FBS record with seven kick return touchdowns, including four in 2017 when he was selected for multiple All-America teams. Kicker Jake Elliot also earned national recognition under Lorig as a Luo Groza semifinalist in 2016. Elliot made 21 field goals and all 58 of his extra point attempts.
Genard Avery made 33.0 TFL in 2016 and 2017 en route to being an All-AAC First Team selection both years. The Tigers forced 60 turnovers during those two seasons, which was the second-most in the FBS.
Utah State (2014-15)
Prior to Memphis, Lorig served on the Utah State defensive staff for two seasons. In 2015, Lorig coached the safeties after directing the team’s linebackers the previous campaign (2014). His units were key parts of one of the stingiest defenses in the nation as Utah State finished both seasons ranked in the top-30 in total defense.
In 2015, Utah State tied for second place in the Mountain West Conference (MW) Mountain Division with a 5-3 league record and earned a postseason bid to play in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. The 2015 season saw Utah State rank 19th nationally in total defense (332.5 ypg) and Lorig’s safeties helped the Aggies allow the 13th-fewest passing yards in the nation (180.5 ypg).
In his first season at Utah State (2014), Lorig helped the Aggies to the second-most wins in school history with a 10-4 overall record, including a 21-6 victory over UTEP in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl. Lorig coached a pair of Aggies linebackers – Zach and Nick Vigil – to All-Mountain West first team honors. Zach was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and a USA Today Sports All-America second-team pick, as well as earning All-America honors from three other organizations. Zach wrapped up his senior season with 156 tackles, including 9.0 sacks and 20.5 TFL. He ranked seventh nationally in tackles per game (11.1) and 13th in TFL per game (1.46).
Arizona State (2012-13)
Lorig spent two seasons in Tempe coaching cornerbacks and special teams at Arizona State. He coached several all-conference performers and mentored 2016 Lou Groza Award winner Zane Gonzalez during Gonzalez’s freshman season. The Sun Devils reached bowl games in both of Lorig’s seasons at ASU, going 18-9 with three wins over Top-25 teams.
In 2013, Lorig coached two cornerbacks who earned multiple Pac-12 accolades. Robert Nelson, an All-Pac-12 first team performer, ranked 19th nationally in interceptions per game (0.4), and Osahon Irabor was an All-Pac-12 second team selection. The Sun Devils defense ranked third nationally with 21 interceptions. On special teams, Gonzalez ranked first in the Pac-12 and fifth nationally in field goals per game (1.8) and 29th nationally in field goal percentage (.833). Gonzalez’s 25 made field goals tied an NCAA freshman record.
In 2012, Lorig coached a pair of Pac-12 honorable mention cornerbacks in Irabor and Deveron Carr. The duo combined for 21 passes defended and helped Arizona State rank third nationally in passing yards allowed (167.9 ypg). Josh Hubner averaged a school-record 47.1 yards per punt in the 2012 campaign. Hubner’s punting average led the Pac-12 and was second nationally.
Central Washington (2008-11)
Prior to joining the Sun Devils staff, Lorig was the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Central Washington for four seasons (2008-11). During his time at Central Washington, the Wildcats posted a 34-12 overall record, won three Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships and earned two NCAA Division II Playoffs appearances. Lorig coached 26 All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) first or second team performers during his time in Ellensburg. He mentored three GNAC Freshmen of the Year in four years at CWU.
Lorig’s defense routinely was among the top-10 nationally in total defense. He named the 2010 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Assistant Coach of the Year. In 2009, Lorig was a finalist for FootballScoop.com’s Division II Coordinator of the Year.
UTEP (2007)
Lorig made his first foray into FBS football at UTEP, where he coached kicker Jose Martinez to first-team All-Conference USA honors. Martinez accounted for 95 of the Miners points while making 17-of-20 field goals and 44-of-46 extra points.
Idaho State (1999-2006)
Prior to heading to El Paso, Lorig coached for seven seasons at Idaho State where he coached linebackers and cornerbacks for four seasons before being promoted to defensive coordinator. He helped the Bengals win the Big Sky in 2002 when they went 8-3 with a perfect 6-0 mark at home. In 2003, Lorig was the defensive coordinator as the Bengals went 8-4 to post the first back-to-back eight win seasons in school history.
While in Pocatello, Lorig coached 16 All-Big Sky performers, including defensive end Jared Allen. Allen was a first-team All-American and won the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the best defensive player at the FCS level, while Lorig was his defensive coordinator. The future NFL star finished the year with 17.5 sacks, 102 tackles, 28.0 TFL and nine pass deflections.
Western Oregon (2007)
Lorig started his coaching career at his alma mater, where he helped WOU win the Columbia Football Association in 1997 and advance to the NAIA National Playoffs. The Wolves had five all-conference defensive backs during Lorig’s time in Monmouth.
Playing Career and Personal
A two-time All-Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges honoree, Lorig began his collegiate playing career at cornerback for Walla Walla Community College. Following those two seasons, Lorig moved on to Western Oregon, where he played two years and was a team captain.
Lorig earned both his bachelor’s degree in law enforcement (1995) and his master’s degree in correctional administration (1997) from Western Oregon. A native of Edmonds, Wash., his family includes his wife, Becky, and children: son, Tyler, and daughters, Jordan and Emma.