Jerry Mack begins his first season with the Jacksonville Jaguars as running backs coach in 2024. He most recently served as running backs coach at the University of Tennessee for three seasons. Mack has 20 years of collegiate coaching experience, five conference championships and was a three-time HBCU Coach of the Year.
The Memphis native guided the University of Tennessee's running back for three seasons (2021-23) and in that time the Vols produced 22 games of at least 200 rushing yards, including seven of 12 in 2023. The Vols finished the 2023 season as the number one rushing offense in the SEC, ranking ninth in the nation in yards per game, and sixth nationally in yards per carry. RB Jaylen Wright became Tennessee's first 1,000 yard rusher since 2015 on his way to 2023 All-SEC Second Team honors.
The 2022 season saw Mack's backs make a major impact as Tennessee had the top ranked offense in the nation, reaching the 11-win plateau for the first time in two decades highlighted by victories over Alabama, Florida, LSU, Kentucky and Clemson. The Vols tied a school-record for rushing touchdowns with 40, a mark that also ranked third nationally. The running back trio of Wright, Jabari Small and Dylan Sampson combined for 29 rushing scores in the fall of 2022, and Tennessee was the only SEC program with multiple running backs who logged 10 or more rushing touchdowns for the year.
The University of Tennessee shattered eight offensive records in 2021 and ranked in the top 25 nationally in scoring offense and rushing offense. Mack's first season saw the Vols rushing offense improve from 84th to 11th nationally, putting up 217.8 rushing yards per game.
Prior to his arrival in Knoxville, Mack served in multiple roles at Rice for three seasons. He was named the Owls' offensive coordinator on Dec. 12, 2017, and tabbed as Rice's associate head coach on Feb. 13, 2019. In his first year at Rice, Mack's offense had four games with 100-yard rushers and three games with 100-yard receivers. He saw a trio of his receivers each top 40 receptions and 500 receiving yards for the first time at Rice since 2008.
In four seasons at North Carolina Central University, Mack led the Eagles to at least a share of three consecutive MEAC championships and a berth in the 2016 Celebration Bowl. He compiled 31-15 record in four seasons as one of the youngest head coaches at the FBS/FCS level. He was named the 2016 HBCU Football Coach of the Year by Black College Sports Page and The Pigskin Club in Washington, D.C., after NCCU smashed its school record for offense on its way to the Celebration Bowl.
Mack joined NCCU after spending two seasons (2012-13) at South Alabama and one season at Memphis as wide receivers coach. As offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Arkansas at Pine Bluff in 2010, Mack transformed a unit that ranked 101st in the nation in total offense to 30th nationally and No. 2 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Mack served as passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at Central Arkansas during the 2008-09 seasons, helping to lead the 10-2 Bears to the Southland Conference championship and placing 10th in the NCAA Division I-FCS in total offense. In Mack's two seasons (2006-07) as wide receivers and tight ends coach at Jackson State, the Tigers ranked second in the SWAC in scoring offense both years and captured the SWAC championship title in 2007. Mack started his coaching career as an offensive graduate assistant at Delta State from 2004-05.
Mack began his collegiate playing career at Jackson State before transferring after one season (1999) to Arkansas State. He lettered three years at Arkansas State (2001-03) before earning his bachelor's degree in management information systems in 2003. Mack completed his master's degree in physical education from Delta State in 2006 after serving on the Statesmen coaching staff as a graduate assistant.
He was selected for five internships in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills (2008), New York Jets (2009, 2010), Houston Texans (2018) and Miami Dolphins (2019) and participated in the NCAA Expert and Champion Coach's Academy program in 2019.
Mack and his wife Starlett have two sons, Jaden and Jaxon, and one daughter, Skyler.
