Larry Kerr - Assistant Coach/Inside Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator - Football Coaches

Larry Kerr

Title:
Assistant Coach/Inside Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator
Email:
dukefootball@duaa.duke.edu
Phone:
(919) 684-2635

Larry Kerr is in his second year as a member of the Duke staff and coaches the Blue Devil rush ends and strong side linebackers.

At rush end, the Blue Devils return senior all-star candidate Patrick Bailey for his final season. The Elmendorf, Texas, product has played in 30 career games for the Blue Devils while producing 154 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, four quarterback sacks and one interception. Last year, Bailey contributed 77 tackles. 12.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks and was named Duke’s co-Outstanding Defensive Player along with middle linebacker Michael Tauiliili. Bailey also is a two-time selection to the Academic All-ACC team and received Academic All-District honors in 2006.

Junior Greg Akinbiyi, who finished 11th on the squad with 26 tackles a year ago, and redshirt freshman Patrick Egboh will provide depth.

In addition, Kerr will guide the strong side linbacking group where juniors Charles Robinson and Marcus Jones are slated to complete for the starting nod. Robinson is in his fourth year in the Duke defensive system while Jones, who has started at both quarterback and wide receiver during his tenure with the Blue Devils, made the smooth transition from offense to defense during spring drills.

"Larry has been a part of some very successful football programs and we’re excited to have him with us," said Duke head coach Ted Roof. "His experience adds a lot to our staff as we continue to build each aspect of the Duke program."

Kerr spent the 2006 campaign as a special teams coordinator for the Blue Devils. Last season, Jabari Marshall developed into one of the top kickoff return men in the ACC and finished fifth in the conference with a 25.1 yard kickoff return average. In 2005, Kerr’s kickoff return unit was led by Ronnie Drummer, who had a 23.9 yard return average and a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against East Carolina.

Kerr was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at UCLA from 2003-05, helping the Bruins to a 22-15 overall ledger and three bowl game appearances. In 2005, UCLA posted a 10-2 record that included a 50-38 win over Northwestern in the Vitalis Sun Bowl while senior inside linebacker Spencer Havner was a semifinalist for the Butkus, Rotary Lombardi and Bednarik Awards. Kerr’s 2003 unit ranked second in the Pac-10 and 18th nationally in total defense.

Prior to his stint at UCLA, Kerr spent 10 seasons on the staff at Colorado State as defensive coordinator as the Rams captured six conference championships and participated in seven bowl games. He helped Colorado State to 84 wins against 38 defeats over his 10 years and, in 2002, the Rams went 10-4, won the Mountain West Conference crown and played in the Liberty Bowl.

In 1997, Colorado State won a school record 11 games, won the Western Athletic Conference title and defeated Missouri, 35-24, in the Holiday Bowl. In his 10-year tenure with the Rams, Kerr helped Colorado State to seven seasons with eight or more victories and victories in the New Orleans, Liberty and Holiday Bowls.

A 1975 graduate of San Jose State, Kerr got his start in coaching at his alma mater, serving as the inside linebackers coach from 1980-82. He then moved to Stanford for six years (1983-88) as the inside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator. In 1989, Kerr was the inside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at UCLA before spending three years (1990-92) as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Northern Arizona.

Kerr is married to the former Tracy Hoover of Los Gatos, Calif. The couple has two daughters, Kelly and Lindsey, and both reside in Fort Collins, Colo.