A South Carolina college will have a former NFL player as its head coach starting next season.
Jerricho Cotchery was hired to be the next head coach of Limestone University's football team, the school announced on Thursday. Cotchery has spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the Limestone Saints, helping the team qualify for the NCAA Division II National Championship playoffs in both seasons.
Cotchery had a 12-year NFL career as a wide receiver after graduating from NC State. During his career, Cotchery played with three teams, including the Carolina Panthers.
Most of Cotchery's career was spent with the New York Jets. He was one of the Jets top receivers during his seven seasons with the team.
After playing three years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cotchery signed with the Panthers in 2014. Cotchery played with Carolina for two seasons, catching 87 passes for 1065 yards and four touchdowns. Cotchery caught two passes for 17 yards receiving during the Panthers' appearance in the 2015 Super Bowl
Following his retirement, Cotchery was the Panthers wide receivers coach from 2017 to 2019.
“We are extremely excited to have Jerricho as our new head football coach,” Hailey Martin, Limestone’s Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, said. “He is so well-liked and respected by our student-athletes and coaches."