Jan. 14, 2016
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech head football coach Paul Johnson announced Thursday the addition of Ron West to the staff as co-offensive line coach.
West, who played for Clemson and most recently served on North Carolina’s staff, brings 36 years of experience to the Yellow Jackets.
“I’m excited to add Ron to our staff,” said Johnson. “He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our staff and he’ll be a big part of our program moving forward.”
West will work alongside offensive line coach Mike Sewak, overseeing the backbone of Johnson’s spread option offense that has helped lead the ACC in rushing in each of the last eight seasons. He joins Tech’s coaching staff after a two-year stint (2013-14) with the Tar Heels, where he served as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
“Having grown up and played high school football in Georgia, it’s an honor for me to come back home and coach at a great institution like Georgia Tech,” said West. “I’ve spent much of my career in the ACC and I have great respect for Tech’s program and what Paul Johnson has done there. This program has a proud history, won the Orange Bowl last year, so it’s the perfect opportunity for me to join a great staff and bring my family back home to Atlanta.”
West attended high school at nearby Russell High School (now Tri-Cities) and enrolled at Marion Institute before transferring to play his final two years at Clemson. West was high school classmates with Tom Cooksey, the father of current Yellow Jacket Tyler Cooksey. Current Tech offensive lineman Shamire Devine attended Tri-Cities.
Ten years of his career were spent at Clemson, joining the Tigers’ staff in 1999 first as offensive line coach. He moved to the defensive line in 2004 and spent the final four years coaching outside linebackers.
In 2006, West coached one of the greatest players in Clemson history, the late Gaines Adams — the No. 4 overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft. Adams was named to all five All-America teams in 2006 and was recognized as one of seven unanimous first-team All-Americans that year.
Since leaving Clemson, West has coached defense at Tulsa (2009), Illinois (2010-11) and Arizona State (2012) before landing at North Carolina in 2013.
After graduating from Clemson in 1979, he received his first full-time coaching position as offensive line coach at North Texas in 1980. His other coaching stops have included Texas Tech (1981-85), Louisiana-Lafayette (1986-92), Baylor (1993-96) and Tulane (1997-98).
While at Baylor, he worked alongside current Tech linebackers coach Andy McCollum.
West and his wife Becky have two adult children, Brad and Lori.
