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| Defensive Line: |
| Thielen Smith |
| Coaching Experience: High School: Assistant coach Warren Easton in New Orleans, LA (1977-78)...College: defensive line coach at Southwestern Louisiana (1979-84)...linebackers/defensive line coach at Tulane (1985-90)...inside linebackers coach at LSU (1991-92)...defensive line coach at Northeast Louisiana (1993-94)...defensive line coach at Tulane (1995-98)...defensive line coach at Clemson (1999-present). |
| Education: Earned a BS degree in education in 1977 from LSU. |
| Personal Data: Born on January 23, 1954...married to the former Gail Scott...the couple has six children - Toyah (22), Keisha (18), Terrance (17), Temetria (12), Vincent (11), and Shaun (11). |
| Bowl Participation: As a player: 1972 Bluebonnet Bowl...1973 Orange Bowl...As a coach: 1987 Independence Bowl...1998 Liberty Bowl...1999 Peach Bowl...2001 Gator Bowl. |
| Other Highlights: Starting linebacker during his playing career at LSU, he had 62 tackles his final season...played in two bowl games at LSU, including 1973 team that played in the Orange Bowl...coached Joe Caravello, who earned a Super Bowl ring with the Redskins...has coached or recruited 8 NFL players...part of the resurgence at Tulane under coach Bowden, the Tulane defense forced 34 turnovers in 1997, third best in the nation...In 1999, Clemson led the ACC in sacks with 47 and his defenders had a lot to do with the pass defense ranking 17th in the nation and second in the ACC...has coached three different schools in Louisiana: Tulane, Southwest Louisiana, and Northeast Louisiana. |
| Playing Experience: College - Three-year letter winner as a linebacker at LSU (1973-75). |
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