JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (July 10, 2014) – ETSU head football coach Carl Torbush announced Thursday that former Buccaneers’ offensive lineman Erik Losey has joined the team’s coaching staff.

Losey, who has spent the 2013 season as an assistant coach at Alcorn State, played at ETSU in 2002 and 2003. He said it’s an honor to be back in Johnson City and helping to resurrect a program that he watched end back in 2003.

“What an honor to be part of such a defining moment for both East Tennessee State University and Johnson City,” said Losey, who has spent the last seven seasons coaching in the college ranks. “It’s not every day that somebody gets the opportunity to be part of the resurrection of a football program, let alone one that means so much to those who have laid the foundation for ETSU football.

“President Noland and Dr. Sander have done a great job instituting a plan for the return of football at ETSU, and along with the vision and standards set by Coach Torbush, this will give everybody in the Buc family a product to be proud of both on and off the field. I consider it a privilege to be working under Coach Torbush and with the staff that he is assembling, and am looking forward to representing the Blue and Gold again.”

Torbush said Losey will make a strong addition to the ETSU football coaching staff.

“We are thrilled to have Erik back as part of the ETSU family,” Torbush said. “He comes highly recommended by the coaches he has worked for and worked with, and they are coaches that I know and respect. His passion, expertise and knowledge will be instrumental in not only putting a quality product on the field, but in recruiting. Being from East Tennessee, playing at ETSU, and recruiting the areas we want him to recruit make Erik a perfect fit for ETSU football.”

ETSU Seniors Associate Athletic Director/COO Scott Carter was a teammate of Losey’s in 2002, and said he knows firsthand the type of asset Losey will be to the program.

“Erik was a hard-nosed teammate with great leadership skills,” Carter said. “We are thrilled to have him back home at ETSU and a part of our football coaching staff. He is an asset to the program because he is both an excellent person and a great football coach.”

At Alcorn State, Losey helped the program’s offense finish first in least sacks allowed, second in total offense, and third in rushing offense in the Southwest Athletic Conference. He also helped guide linemen Isaac Sampson, Detonio Dade and Jon Scott to postseason honors, with Sampson earning first-team All-American status.  

Prior the 2013 season at Alcorn State, Losey coached running backs for Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C. In his only season Campbell, Losey tutored freshman fullback, Dalton Dillon to All-PFL honors. Losey spent the 2011 season at Webber International University where he coached the offensive line and was responsible for writing up the "Warrior" run game. He had two offensive linemen that were nominated for All-American honors under his direction.

During the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Losey served as the Offensive Line quality control coach at Florida State University.  As a member of the Seminoles staff, Losey assisted with the offensive line under Offensive Line Coach, Rick Trickett and served under Head Coaches Jimbo Fisher and Bobby Bowden. During Losey’s two seasons at Florida State, the Seminoles had two bowl victories in both the 2010 Gator Bowl and the 2010 Chick-Fil-A Bowl.

The Hixson, Tenn. native began his coaching career as the Offensive Graduate Assistant for Western Kentucky University during the Hilltoppers transition from Division I FCS to Division I FBS, joining the Sun Belt Conference.  Losey worked under Offensive Line Coach Walter Wells and Head Coach David Elson during the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

Losey enjoyed a deocrated playing career at both East Tennessee State and Western Kentucky, starting all 47 games of his college career. He began his collegiate career at ETSU in 2002, where he was a Southern Conference Freshman of the Year nominee.  After the 2003 season, ETSU discontinured its football program and Losey transferred to WKU, where he was selected to the All-Gateway Conference 2nd team and a First Team All-Newcomer selection in 2004. As a senior, Losey was voted to the American Football Coaches Association All-American First Team and Associated Press All-American Third Team under the direction of Offensive Line Coach, Walter Wells.

In addition to gaining All-American status in 2005, Losey was named to the All-Gateway Conference First Team while receiving National Lineman of the Week for his play against SEC member Auburn University and earned Conference Player of the Week twice during the season.

Losey graduated from Western Kentucky with a double major earning his B.A. degree in History and Social Studies in 2006.