Press release…
Josh Aldridge has been named the linebackers coach at Auburn, head coach Hugh Freeze announced Friday. A William V. Campbell Trophy Award semifinalist during his playing days at Harding, Aldridge spent the previous four seasons at Liberty where he served as a defensive coach, including co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2022.
“Working closely with Josh the last four years, I have witnessed a coach who is a very good teacher, motivator and relates well with his players,” Freeze said. “He has a tremendous work ethic and will be a great fit with our staff and our culture at Auburn.”
Aldridge was the Flames’ defensive line coach his first three seasons before being promoted to co-defensive coordinator shortly after the 2021 season where he was a Broyles Award nominee. During the 2022 season, Aldridge also coached Liberty’s linebackers.
This past season, Aldridge’s Liberty defense was first nationally in team tackles for loss, fourth in team sacks, 15th in passes intercepted, 19th nationally in third down defense and 25th in first down defense. Defensive end Durrell Johnson led the nation in tackles for loss (22.5) and was tied for third in the country in fumbles recovered (3). Aldridge also served as interim head coach in Liberty’s bowl game.
“I’ve been fortunate to work for Coach Freeze the last four years and I’m appreciative to be joining him again at Auburn,” Aldridge said. “I look forward to helping Auburn build a defense that is physical, aggressive and competes for championships. The area surrounding the Plains is very familiar to my family and I can’t wait to hit the road in our footprint in search of Auburn Men.”
Liberty finished the 2021 season ranked No. 6 in the country in passing yards allowed (180.3 per game), No. 11 in red zone defense (72.5 percent), total defense (320.2 yards allowed per game), No. 14 in tackles for loss (7.1 per game), No. 24 in scoring defense (21.5 points allowed per game) and No. 28 in sacks (2.85 per game).
Under Aldridge’s tutelage, Johnson made an immediate impact during his first season at Liberty in 2020 and was named to the Phil Steele All-America fourth team. Johnson led the Flames with 11.5 tackles for a loss and 8.5 sacks.
Jessie Lemonier, another Aldridge product, finished his two-year career at Liberty with 20.5 sacks, which ranked third among FBS players nationally in total sacks recorded during the 2018 and 2019 campaigns. Following the 2020 NFL Draft, Lemonier signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Aldridge also helped develop nose guard Ralfs Rusins, who recorded 94 tackles during the 2019 and 2020 seasons, after recording only 21 tackles during his previous 25 career games played.
Aldridge came to Liberty after serving as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Lenoir-Rhyne during the 2018 season. The Bears posted a 12-2 record and ranked No. 1 in the country in turnovers caused and No. 9 in scoring defense, while advancing to the NCAA Division II Super Region 2 finals.
Prior to leading Lenoir-Rhyne’s defense, Aldridge served as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at West Georgia (2014-17).
Aldridge helped West Georgia to three NCAA Division II playoff appearances (2014, 2015, and 2017), back-to-back 12-win seasons, two NCAA Division II Super Region 2 titles (2014 and 2015) and a Gulf South Conference crown in 2015.
A native of Jackson, Tennessee, Aldridge graduated from Harding in 2012 with a degree in social sciences, where he was a four-year letterwinner and a two-time All-Great American Conference honoree. He started his coaching career at Ouachita Baptist and Lindenwood in 2013. He and his wife, Jessica, have two children, Braxton and Nora.
Josh Aldridge has been named the linebackers coach at Auburn, head coach Hugh Freeze announced Friday. A William V. Campbell Trophy Award semifinalist during his playing days at Harding, Aldridge spent the previous four seasons at Liberty where he served as a defensive coach, including co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2022.
“Working closely with Josh the last four years, I have witnessed a coach who is a very good teacher, motivator and relates well with his players,” Freeze said. “He has a tremendous work ethic and will be a great fit with our staff and our culture at Auburn.”
Aldridge was the Flames’ defensive line coach his first three seasons before being promoted to co-defensive coordinator shortly after the 2021 season where he was a Broyles Award nominee. During the 2022 season, Aldridge also coached Liberty’s linebackers.
This past season, Aldridge’s Liberty defense was first nationally in team tackles for loss, fourth in team sacks, 15th in passes intercepted, 19th nationally in third down defense and 25th in first down defense. Defensive end Durrell Johnson led the nation in tackles for loss (22.5) and was tied for third in the country in fumbles recovered (3). Aldridge also served as interim head coach in Liberty’s bowl game.
“I’ve been fortunate to work for Coach Freeze the last four years and I’m appreciative to be joining him again at Auburn,” Aldridge said. “I look forward to helping Auburn build a defense that is physical, aggressive and competes for championships. The area surrounding the Plains is very familiar to my family and I can’t wait to hit the road in our footprint in search of Auburn Men.”
Liberty finished the 2021 season ranked No. 6 in the country in passing yards allowed (180.3 per game), No. 11 in red zone defense (72.5 percent), total defense (320.2 yards allowed per game), No. 14 in tackles for loss (7.1 per game), No. 24 in scoring defense (21.5 points allowed per game) and No. 28 in sacks (2.85 per game).
Under Aldridge’s tutelage, Johnson made an immediate impact during his first season at Liberty in 2020 and was named to the Phil Steele All-America fourth team. Johnson led the Flames with 11.5 tackles for a loss and 8.5 sacks.
Jessie Lemonier, another Aldridge product, finished his two-year career at Liberty with 20.5 sacks, which ranked third among FBS players nationally in total sacks recorded during the 2018 and 2019 campaigns. Following the 2020 NFL Draft, Lemonier signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Aldridge also helped develop nose guard Ralfs Rusins, who recorded 94 tackles during the 2019 and 2020 seasons, after recording only 21 tackles during his previous 25 career games played.
Aldridge came to Liberty after serving as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Lenoir-Rhyne during the 2018 season. The Bears posted a 12-2 record and ranked No. 1 in the country in turnovers caused and No. 9 in scoring defense, while advancing to the NCAA Division II Super Region 2 finals.
Prior to leading Lenoir-Rhyne’s defense, Aldridge served as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at West Georgia (2014-17).
Aldridge helped West Georgia to three NCAA Division II playoff appearances (2014, 2015, and 2017), back-to-back 12-win seasons, two NCAA Division II Super Region 2 titles (2014 and 2015) and a Gulf South Conference crown in 2015.
A native of Jackson, Tennessee, Aldridge graduated from Harding in 2012 with a degree in social sciences, where he was a four-year letterwinner and a two-time All-Great American Conference honoree. He started his coaching career at Ouachita Baptist and Lindenwood in 2013. He and his wife, Jessica, have two children, Braxton and Nora.
