University of Houston Athletics
Briles Adds Jennings To His Staff
1/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 23, 2005
HOUSTON, Texas - University of Houston head football coach Art Briles today announced the hiring of Clay Jennings as an assistant football coach. Jennings will coach the Cougar secondary, with current defensive coordinator Ron Harris moving to the defensive line to replace Oscar Giles who departed the UH staff earlier in the week to join the football staff at his alma mater, the University of Texas.
"Clay is a Texas guy who played football (at the University of North Texas) in this state," added Briles. "He is a tireless worker who brings great technique as a coach to this program. He is a passionate person who gets the most out of his student-athletes.
"I am proud to welcome him into the Cougar family."
Jennings comes to UH after spending two seasons as the defensive backs coach at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He had spent the previous two seasons as secondary coach and recruiting coordinator for Sam Houston State.
While with the Bearkats in Huntsville, Texas, Jennings was responsible for coaching the defensive secondary and as recruiting coordinator, was responsible for distributing recruiting areas, talent evaluations, planning visit weekends and walk-on recruiting. He recruited Houston, central Texas and the Dallas area for the Bearkats.
Jennings also has had coaching stints at Southern Arkansas University (Feb. 2000-March 2001), Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa (March 1999-Feb. 2000) and Morehouse College in Atlanta (Jan. 1998-Feb. 1999), all as a secondary coach.
Jennings played defensive line and special teams for the University of North Texas from 1992-95 and was a member of the Mean Green¹s first Division I-A squad in 1995 and the Southland Conference championship squad in 1994.
After his playing career, Jennings spent time as a graduate assistant for the Mean Green before moving on to Morehouse.
Jennings was born Nov. 3, 1973. He and his wife Belinda have a son Kirby and a daughter Kenzie. He earned his bachelor¹s degree from UNT in 1996.
