University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Ragin' Cajuns Officially Add Charlie Harbison To Football Staff
3/16/2015 5:02:00 PM | Football
Veteran SEC, ACC coach served past two seasons at Auburn
LAFAYETTE – Charlie Harbison, who spent the previous two seasons on the football staff at Auburn and has a 20-year coaching career in the Southeastern and Atlantic Coast Conferences, was officially named as an assistant coach for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns on Monday in an announcement by head coach Mark Hudspeth.
The hiring of Harbison, a native of Shelby, N.C., is subject to approval from the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors. Harbison, who will serve as the Ragin' Cajuns co-defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach, joins a veteran defensive staff at Louisiana that includes new defensive coordinator Melvin Smith, defensive line coach Levorn Harbin and inside linebackers coach Mike Lucas.
Harbison, a highly regarded recruiter who helped the Tigers to a 2013 SEC Championship and a BCS Championship berth, spent the previous two seasons as co-defensive coordinator at Auburn, where he worked daily with the AU safeties and served on the same defensive staff as Smith and Harbin.
"We're extremely excited to have someone of Coach Harbison's experience joining our staff," Hudspeth said. "He and (defensive coordinator) Melvin Smith have worked together for quite awhile at two different universities and they share a lot of the same philosophies. His experience as a defensive coordinator will definitely be a huge plus as we put this new package together.
"This is going to be a great fit and they'll do a phenomenal job of working with the players, both on and off the field. You can tell that our players know why these coaches have been so successful at every stop."
Harbison, who worked on the same staff with Smith at both Mississippi State (2007-08) and Auburn (2013-14), had previous coaching stops at Clemson (1995-97, 2009-12), Alabama (1998-2000, 2003-06), LSU (2001-02), UTEP (1994) and twice at his alma mater – Gardner-Webb (1984-85, 1992-93).
"You want to have the best people available, period, doing it," said Smith, "and I couldn't think of anybody better for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns right now than Charlie Harbison. He's a player's coach. He's an outstanding human being and a great tactician."
In 2013, Auburn had the second biggest turnaround in college football history in NCAA records at +8.0 games. Harbison coached junior Robenson Therezie, who was named an Associated Press honorable mention All-SEC selection at the star position.
Named one of nation's top-25 recruiters by Rivals in 2010, Harbison helped Clemson to back-to-back 10-win seasons, including the 2011 ACC Championship, the program's first in 20 years, and an Orange Bowl appearance. Harbison coached cornerback Coty Sensabaugh, who had 14 passes defended in 2011 and was drafted by the Tennessee Titans. His secondary was ranked in the top 26 in the nation in pass efficiency defense in 2009 and 2010, while coaching first-team All-America safety DeAndre McDaniel in 2009 and 2010. McDaniel led the ACC and was tied for third in the nation in interceptions (8) in 2009.
"Number one, I'm blessed to be here," Harbison said. "I love what Coach Hudspeth is doing here at Louisiana. He has built something special and I'm blessed to be a part of it. Coach Smith and I are like brothers. We're fortunate to have each other as friends and I want to do everything to help him and Coach Hudspeth to be the best that we can be. I want to come in, do my work and make sure the kids are coached well under my watch."
He helped Clemson to a top-25 ranking and the ACC Atlantic Division title in 2009. Clemson had 21 interceptions, fifth-most in Tiger history and tied for fifth-most in the nation. Clemson was seventh in the nation in passing defense. Prior to his tenure at Clemson, Harbison spent two seasons at Mississippi State (2007-08). After just one season, he was elevated to defensive coordinator, while also coaching safeties. The Bulldogs were seventh in the nation in pass defense and 20th in the nation in pass efficiency defense in 2007.
Harbison had a pair of coaching stints at Alabama from 1998-2000 and 2003-06. He coached the Crimson Tide wide receivers during his second stint, helping Alabama to a 26-24 overall record, including three bowl berths. During that four-year stretch, Harbison helped receivers D. J. Hall, Antonio Carter and Triandos Luke rank among the school's all-time top 10 pass-catchers. Two of Hall's single-season receiving totals were among the best ever at the school. Following the 2005 season, he was honored as one of the nation's top 25 college football recruiters by Rivals.com.
Harbison coached defensive backs in his initial stay from 1998-2000. He helped Alabama to the 1999 Southeastern Conference title and appearances in the 1998 Music City and 2000 Orange Bowls. Two of his pupils, Fernando Bryant (1999) and Tony Dixon (2001) were taken in the first and second rounds of the NFL Draft.
Between the Alabama assignments, Harbison coached the defensive backfield at LSU in 2001 and '02. He was a member of the Tiger coaching staff that won the 2001 SEC title, finished 18-8 overall and played in the 2002 Sugar and 2003 Cotton Bowls. Corey Webster, who played under Harbison his first two years in Baton Rouge, finished his career second on the school's all-time pass interception list.
Harbison served as the defensive backs coach at Clemson from 1995-97. The Tigers posted a 22-14 mark during those three years, ending those seasons in the Gator and back-to-back Peach Bowls. One of his pupils was nine-time Pro Bowl selection Brian Dawkins. He was an All-American and led the ACC in interceptions in Harbison's first year at Clemson (1995).
Harbison also coached the secondary at UTEP (1994) and served twice at his alma mater, Gardner-Webb, coaching wide receivers (1992-93) and defensive backs (1984-85). In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, he worked in both the Arena Football League and the World League of American Football. His pro football coaching resume includes serving as defensive coordinator for the Charlotte Rage (1993).
Harbison graduated from Gardner-Webb College with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1995. A two-sport star in football and track on the college level, he was a free-agent signee of the Buffalo Bills in 1982 and played two seasons (1983-84) with the Boston/New Orleans Breakers of the USFL.
He is married to the former Tammy McCluney and they are the parents of four children, Charlie, Stedman, Masai and Msiba.
The hiring of Harbison, a native of Shelby, N.C., is subject to approval from the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors. Harbison, who will serve as the Ragin' Cajuns co-defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach, joins a veteran defensive staff at Louisiana that includes new defensive coordinator Melvin Smith, defensive line coach Levorn Harbin and inside linebackers coach Mike Lucas.
Harbison, a highly regarded recruiter who helped the Tigers to a 2013 SEC Championship and a BCS Championship berth, spent the previous two seasons as co-defensive coordinator at Auburn, where he worked daily with the AU safeties and served on the same defensive staff as Smith and Harbin.
"We're extremely excited to have someone of Coach Harbison's experience joining our staff," Hudspeth said. "He and (defensive coordinator) Melvin Smith have worked together for quite awhile at two different universities and they share a lot of the same philosophies. His experience as a defensive coordinator will definitely be a huge plus as we put this new package together.
"This is going to be a great fit and they'll do a phenomenal job of working with the players, both on and off the field. You can tell that our players know why these coaches have been so successful at every stop."
Harbison, who worked on the same staff with Smith at both Mississippi State (2007-08) and Auburn (2013-14), had previous coaching stops at Clemson (1995-97, 2009-12), Alabama (1998-2000, 2003-06), LSU (2001-02), UTEP (1994) and twice at his alma mater – Gardner-Webb (1984-85, 1992-93).
"You want to have the best people available, period, doing it," said Smith, "and I couldn't think of anybody better for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns right now than Charlie Harbison. He's a player's coach. He's an outstanding human being and a great tactician."
In 2013, Auburn had the second biggest turnaround in college football history in NCAA records at +8.0 games. Harbison coached junior Robenson Therezie, who was named an Associated Press honorable mention All-SEC selection at the star position.
Named one of nation's top-25 recruiters by Rivals in 2010, Harbison helped Clemson to back-to-back 10-win seasons, including the 2011 ACC Championship, the program's first in 20 years, and an Orange Bowl appearance. Harbison coached cornerback Coty Sensabaugh, who had 14 passes defended in 2011 and was drafted by the Tennessee Titans. His secondary was ranked in the top 26 in the nation in pass efficiency defense in 2009 and 2010, while coaching first-team All-America safety DeAndre McDaniel in 2009 and 2010. McDaniel led the ACC and was tied for third in the nation in interceptions (8) in 2009.
"Number one, I'm blessed to be here," Harbison said. "I love what Coach Hudspeth is doing here at Louisiana. He has built something special and I'm blessed to be a part of it. Coach Smith and I are like brothers. We're fortunate to have each other as friends and I want to do everything to help him and Coach Hudspeth to be the best that we can be. I want to come in, do my work and make sure the kids are coached well under my watch."
He helped Clemson to a top-25 ranking and the ACC Atlantic Division title in 2009. Clemson had 21 interceptions, fifth-most in Tiger history and tied for fifth-most in the nation. Clemson was seventh in the nation in passing defense. Prior to his tenure at Clemson, Harbison spent two seasons at Mississippi State (2007-08). After just one season, he was elevated to defensive coordinator, while also coaching safeties. The Bulldogs were seventh in the nation in pass defense and 20th in the nation in pass efficiency defense in 2007.
Harbison had a pair of coaching stints at Alabama from 1998-2000 and 2003-06. He coached the Crimson Tide wide receivers during his second stint, helping Alabama to a 26-24 overall record, including three bowl berths. During that four-year stretch, Harbison helped receivers D. J. Hall, Antonio Carter and Triandos Luke rank among the school's all-time top 10 pass-catchers. Two of Hall's single-season receiving totals were among the best ever at the school. Following the 2005 season, he was honored as one of the nation's top 25 college football recruiters by Rivals.com.
Harbison coached defensive backs in his initial stay from 1998-2000. He helped Alabama to the 1999 Southeastern Conference title and appearances in the 1998 Music City and 2000 Orange Bowls. Two of his pupils, Fernando Bryant (1999) and Tony Dixon (2001) were taken in the first and second rounds of the NFL Draft.
Between the Alabama assignments, Harbison coached the defensive backfield at LSU in 2001 and '02. He was a member of the Tiger coaching staff that won the 2001 SEC title, finished 18-8 overall and played in the 2002 Sugar and 2003 Cotton Bowls. Corey Webster, who played under Harbison his first two years in Baton Rouge, finished his career second on the school's all-time pass interception list.
Harbison served as the defensive backs coach at Clemson from 1995-97. The Tigers posted a 22-14 mark during those three years, ending those seasons in the Gator and back-to-back Peach Bowls. One of his pupils was nine-time Pro Bowl selection Brian Dawkins. He was an All-American and led the ACC in interceptions in Harbison's first year at Clemson (1995).
Harbison also coached the secondary at UTEP (1994) and served twice at his alma mater, Gardner-Webb, coaching wide receivers (1992-93) and defensive backs (1984-85). In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, he worked in both the Arena Football League and the World League of American Football. His pro football coaching resume includes serving as defensive coordinator for the Charlotte Rage (1993).
Harbison graduated from Gardner-Webb College with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1995. A two-sport star in football and track on the college level, he was a free-agent signee of the Buffalo Bills in 1982 and played two seasons (1983-84) with the Boston/New Orleans Breakers of the USFL.
He is married to the former Tammy McCluney and they are the parents of four children, Charlie, Stedman, Masai and Msiba.
Terrence Williams Media Availability (Dec 12 2025)
Friday, December 12
Tyree Skipper Media Availability (Dec 12, 2025)
Friday, December 12
Jim Salgado Media Availability (Dec 12, 2025)
Friday, December 12
Michael Desormeaux Media Availability (Dec 12, 2025)
Friday, December 12
