Football
DeForest, Joe
Joe DeForest
- Title:
- Defensive Analyst
Joe DeForest, who has 29 years of collegiate coaching experience, was promoted to outside linebackers coach at USC in December of 2018.
He was a defensive analyst with USC in 2018.
DeForest, 54, came to USC from Kansas, where he spent 2016 and 2017 as the Jayhawks’ special teams coordinator.
Before that, he was at West Virginia for 4 seasons (2012-15).  In his first year, he was associate head coach/defensive coordinator and coached the safeties, then he was the special teams coordinator and safeties coach in his final 3 years.  In 2014, placekicker Josh Lambert was a finalist for the 2014 Lou Groza Award and kickoff returner Mario Alford was an All-American first teamer.  West Virginia played in the 2012 Pinstripe Bowl, 2014 Liberty Bowl and 2016 Cactus Bowl.
DeForest spent 11 seasons (2001-11) at Oklahoma State.  He was the special teams coordinator and secondary coach from 2001 to 2004, then was the associate head coach, special teams coordinator and safeties coach from 2005 to 2011.  He coached 3 Big 12 Special Teams Players of the Year (returner Dez Bryant in 2008, placekicker Dan Bailey in 2010 and placekicker/punter Quinn Sharp in 2011). Perrish Cox (4 in 2006-09) and Justin Gilbert (6 in 2010-13) set school records for kickoff return touchdowns. Among the future NFL players he coached were Bailey, safety Markell Martin and cornerbacks Darrent Williams and Jacob Lacey.  He was named a Rivals.com Top 25 recruiter in 2004, 2006 and 2008.
Oklahoma State was third in the nation in kickoff returns in 2001 behind national leader Chris Massey. The Cowboys were 10thnationally in punt returns in 2004 and eighth in kickoff returns in 2006 as Cox earned Freshman All-American honors as a punt returner.  Punter Matt Fodge won the 2008 Ray Guy Award and Cox was an All-American kick returner while Oklahoma State was second nationally in punt returns, sixth in punting and 18thin kickoff returns.  In 2010, Bailey won the Groza Award, Sharp was an All-American first team pick and the Cowboys had 2 kick return touchdowns, a punt return TD and 2 blocked punt return scores (as well as 2 interception return TDs by his safeties).
The 2011 Cowboys went 12-1, won the Big 12 title and finished No. 3 in the polls as Sharp and Martin were All-American first teamers, while Sharp also won the Groza Award and was third nationally in punting, fifth in scoring and seventh in field goals.  Oklahoma State played in the 2002 Houston Bowl, 2004 and 2010 Cotton Bowls, 2004 and 2010 Alamo Bowls, 2006 Independence Bowl, 2007 Insight Bowl, 2008 Holiday Bowl and 2012 Fiesta Bowl.
DeForest started coaching in college at Rice for 4 years (1990-93), the first 2 seasons as an offensive graduate assistant working with the running backs and then the next 2 years as the outside linebackers coach.  Running back Trevor Cobb won the 1991 Doak Walker Award.
He then was the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach at Duke for 7 years (1994-2000). Punter Brian Morton was second in the nation in punting in 2000, while Kyle Moore was ninth in kickoff returns. He coached 2 Blue Devils, linebacker Ryan Fowler and long snapper Patrick Mannelly, who played in the NFL. Duke played in the 1995 Hall of Fame Bowl.  Current USC head coach Clay Helton was an assistant at Duke in 1995 and 1996. Â
DeForest began his coaching career as the outside linebackers coach at his alma mater Titusville (Fla.) High for 2 seasons (1988-89).
He was a 4-year (1983-86) starting linebacker for Southwestern Louisiana, twice earning All-Southern Conference honors.  He also pitched 2 seasons for the Ragin’ Cajuns’ baseball team.  As a senior, he was named Southwestern Louisiana’s top male athlete.  He earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from Southwestern Louisiana in 1987.
He was a linebacker and long snapper in 1987 for the NFL’s Houston Oilers (preseason) and New Orleans Saints (3 games).  He was with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders in the 1988 preseason.
He prepped at Titusville (Fla.) High.
He was born on April 17, 1965.  He and his wife, Laura, have a daughter, Ashley, 25.
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NFL STARS:Â Trevor Cobb, Dan Bailey
He was a defensive analyst with USC in 2018.
DeForest, 54, came to USC from Kansas, where he spent 2016 and 2017 as the Jayhawks’ special teams coordinator.
Before that, he was at West Virginia for 4 seasons (2012-15).  In his first year, he was associate head coach/defensive coordinator and coached the safeties, then he was the special teams coordinator and safeties coach in his final 3 years.  In 2014, placekicker Josh Lambert was a finalist for the 2014 Lou Groza Award and kickoff returner Mario Alford was an All-American first teamer.  West Virginia played in the 2012 Pinstripe Bowl, 2014 Liberty Bowl and 2016 Cactus Bowl.
DeForest spent 11 seasons (2001-11) at Oklahoma State.  He was the special teams coordinator and secondary coach from 2001 to 2004, then was the associate head coach, special teams coordinator and safeties coach from 2005 to 2011.  He coached 3 Big 12 Special Teams Players of the Year (returner Dez Bryant in 2008, placekicker Dan Bailey in 2010 and placekicker/punter Quinn Sharp in 2011). Perrish Cox (4 in 2006-09) and Justin Gilbert (6 in 2010-13) set school records for kickoff return touchdowns. Among the future NFL players he coached were Bailey, safety Markell Martin and cornerbacks Darrent Williams and Jacob Lacey.  He was named a Rivals.com Top 25 recruiter in 2004, 2006 and 2008.
Oklahoma State was third in the nation in kickoff returns in 2001 behind national leader Chris Massey. The Cowboys were 10thnationally in punt returns in 2004 and eighth in kickoff returns in 2006 as Cox earned Freshman All-American honors as a punt returner.  Punter Matt Fodge won the 2008 Ray Guy Award and Cox was an All-American kick returner while Oklahoma State was second nationally in punt returns, sixth in punting and 18thin kickoff returns.  In 2010, Bailey won the Groza Award, Sharp was an All-American first team pick and the Cowboys had 2 kick return touchdowns, a punt return TD and 2 blocked punt return scores (as well as 2 interception return TDs by his safeties).
The 2011 Cowboys went 12-1, won the Big 12 title and finished No. 3 in the polls as Sharp and Martin were All-American first teamers, while Sharp also won the Groza Award and was third nationally in punting, fifth in scoring and seventh in field goals.  Oklahoma State played in the 2002 Houston Bowl, 2004 and 2010 Cotton Bowls, 2004 and 2010 Alamo Bowls, 2006 Independence Bowl, 2007 Insight Bowl, 2008 Holiday Bowl and 2012 Fiesta Bowl.
DeForest started coaching in college at Rice for 4 years (1990-93), the first 2 seasons as an offensive graduate assistant working with the running backs and then the next 2 years as the outside linebackers coach.  Running back Trevor Cobb won the 1991 Doak Walker Award.
He then was the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach at Duke for 7 years (1994-2000). Punter Brian Morton was second in the nation in punting in 2000, while Kyle Moore was ninth in kickoff returns. He coached 2 Blue Devils, linebacker Ryan Fowler and long snapper Patrick Mannelly, who played in the NFL. Duke played in the 1995 Hall of Fame Bowl.  Current USC head coach Clay Helton was an assistant at Duke in 1995 and 1996. Â
DeForest began his coaching career as the outside linebackers coach at his alma mater Titusville (Fla.) High for 2 seasons (1988-89).
He was a 4-year (1983-86) starting linebacker for Southwestern Louisiana, twice earning All-Southern Conference honors.  He also pitched 2 seasons for the Ragin’ Cajuns’ baseball team.  As a senior, he was named Southwestern Louisiana’s top male athlete.  He earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from Southwestern Louisiana in 1987.
He was a linebacker and long snapper in 1987 for the NFL’s Houston Oilers (preseason) and New Orleans Saints (3 games).  He was with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders in the 1988 preseason.
He prepped at Titusville (Fla.) High.
He was born on April 17, 1965.  He and his wife, Laura, have a daughter, Ashley, 25.
Â
DeFOREST SNAPSHOTÂ
BIRTHDAY:Â April 17, 1965
FAMILY:Â Wife, Laura;Â Daughter, Ashley, 25
HIGH SCHOOL: Titusville (Fla.) HS
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, marketing, Southwestern Louisiana, 1987
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Titusville (Fla.) HS
Southwestern Louisiana, linebacker, 1983-86
Houston Oilers, linebacker/long snapper, 1987
New Orleans Saints, linebacker/long snapper, 1987
Calgary Stampeders, linebacker, 1988
COACHING EXPERIENCE: 31 years
| YEAR | TEAM | POSITION | BOWL |
| 1988 | Titusville HS | Outside Linebackers | -- |
| 1989 | Titusville HS | Outside Linebackers | -- |
| 1990 | Rice | Graduate Assistant (Running Backs) | -- |
| 1991 | Rice | Graduate Assistant (Running Backs) | -- |
| 1992 | Rice | Outside Linebackers | -- |
| 1993 | Rice | Outside Linebackers | -- |
| 1994 | Duke | Special Teams Coordinator/Outside LBs | -- |
| 1995 | Duke | Special Teams Coordinator/Outside LBs | Hall of Fame |
| 1996 | Duke | Special Teams Coordinator/Outside LBs | -- |
| 1997 | Duke | Special Teams Coordinator/Outside LBs | -- |
| 1998 | Duke | Special Teams Coordinator/Outside LBs | -- |
| 1999 | Duke | Special Teams Coordinator/Outside LBs | -- |
| 2000 | Duke | Special Teams Coordinator/Outside LBs | -- |
| 2001 | Oklahoma State | Special Teams Coordinator/Secondary | -- |
| 2002 | Oklahoma State | Special Teams Coordinator/Secondary | Houston |
| 2003 | Oklahoma State | Special Teams Coordinator/Secondary | Cotton |
| 2004 | Oklahoma State | Special Teams Coordinator/Secondary | Alamo |
| 2005 | Oklahoma State | Â Assoc. HC/Sp. Teams Coord./Safeties | -- |
| 2006 | Oklahoma State | Â Assoc. HC/Sp. Teams Coord./Safeties | Independence |
| 2007 | Oklahoma State | Â Assoc. HC/Sp. Teams Coord./Safeties | Insight |
| 2008 | Oklahoma State | Â Assoc. HC/Sp. Teams Coord./Safeties | Holiday |
| 2009 | Oklahoma State | Â Assoc. HC/Sp. Teams Coord./Safeties | Cotton |
| 2010 | Oklahoma State | Â Assoc. HC/Sp. Teams Coord./Safeties | Alamo |
| 2011 | Oklahoma State | Â Assoc. HC/Sp. Teams Coord./Safeties | Fiesta |
| 2012 | West Virginia | Assoc. HC/Defensive Coord./Safeties | Pinstripe |
| 2013 | West Virginia | Special Teams Coordinator/Safeties | -- |
| 2014 | West Virginia | Special Teams Coordinator/Safeties | Liberty |
| 2015 | West Virginia | Special Teams Coordinator/Safeties | Cactus |
| 2016 | Kansas | Special Teams Coordinator | -- |
| 2017 | Kansas | Special Teams Coordinator | -- |
| 2018 | USC | Defensive Analyst | -- |
NFL STARS:Â Trevor Cobb, Dan Bailey
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