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Princeton University Athletics
Football Squad Completes 2006 Coaching Staff As Spring Session Opens
April 05, 2006 | Football
April 5, 2006
PRINCETON - With the spring football camp in full gear, the Princeton coaching staff is getting an idea of who will fill several roles for the 2006 season. Of course, that staff had two roles of its own filled just before the spring began. Head coach Roger Hughes was pleased to introduce offensive line coach Gregg Perry and defensive backs coach Isaac Carter as the newest members of the Princeton football program prior to the opening of the spring session.
Perry replaces Stan Clayton, an original member of Hughes' staff, who recently accepted the position as offensive line coach at the University of Toledo.
Perry, who joined the Delaware varsity football staff in 1981 after serving as head freshman coach for two seasons, served as the Blue Hen offensive line coach for 21 years from 1981 until 2001. He left the staff following the retirement of legendary head coach Tubby Raymond, who won 300 games over 36 seasons and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Perry had worked as a financial advisor for Morgan Stanley prior to his arrival to Princeton.
Perry was a three-year letterwinner as a fullback and tight end and played on Delaware's 1974-76 teams that won 28 games, two Lambert Cup trophies, and reached the NCAA Division II playoffs twice under Raymond. He was a teammate of longtime Princeton defensive coordinator Steve Verbit. The 1974 squad went 12-2 and advanced to the NCAA Division II national championship game before falling to Central Michigan in the finals. The 1975 and '76 teams both won eight games apiece, with the latter advancing to the NCAA quarterfinal.
A 1977 graduate of Delaware, Perry earned his master's degree from the same school in 1979 while serving as a graduate assistant to the varsity coaching staff. He then served as freshman head coach in 1979-80, leading the team to a record of 8-2. Perry's success with the offensive line was a major factor in Delaware consistently being one of the nation's top-ranked offensive teams in NCAA Division I-AA. The Blue Hens led the Yankee Conference (now Atlantic 10 Football Conference) in rushing from 1991-94 and annually ranked among the national leaders in I-AA in that category.
During his 21 seasons, Delaware was a consistent national power in the NCAA I-AA ranks, posting a cumulative record of 181-81-1, a winning percentage of .690 and an average of 8.6 wins per year. The team won nine or more games 10 times during his tenure and had just three losing seasons. The Blue Hens advanced to the NCAA Tournament 11 times, won six conference titles, five Lambert Cups, and five ECAC Team of the Year awards. The 1982 was NCAA I-AA runner-ups while the 1997 and 2000 teams advanced to the NCAA I-AA semifinals.
During his tenure, Perry produced nine All-Americans, including offensive tackle Jim Stull, who had a tryout with the Carolina Panthers in 2000, and Jason Nerys, who moved on to earn All-American honors in 2003.
"[Perry] will coach our offensive line and brings a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience with him from the Univeristy of Delaware," Hughes said. "He was part of a staff who won over 200 victories and was in numerous playoff appearances. He is one of the most respected recruiters and clinicians among college coaches. We are so pleased to have him join the Princeton Football Family."
Carter replaces Nate Nelson, who took a job with the Stanford coaching staff last month. He will assist coach Eric Jackson in the defensive backfield.
Carter spent the last four years as the defensive back coach and pass defense coordinator for New Mexico Highlands University, a Division II that is part of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). Over the last three years, his pass defense has ranked in the top three in the RMAC, including a second-place finish in 2003. He has had four all-conference defensive backs, including Donte Blaze of the Arena Football League's Utah Blaze.
He also served as the speed and conditioning coach and the assistant special teams coach over the last three years. Among New Mexico Highlands' achievements on the special teams was finishing first in the nation in kickoff returns in 2004 and leading the RMAC in blocked punts in 2003 and 2004.
An academic coordinator as well, Carter received his bachelor's degree from New Mexico Highlands and is on pace to earn his masters this spring. He began his football career at Eastern Kentucky, but transferred to his alma mater prior to his senior season.
"We are very pleased Isaac has joined our staff," Hughes said. "He will be working with our defensive backs and brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience. Having both played and coached the position, Isaac will add a great deal to our staff."
GoPrincetonTigers.com will have further coverage of the spring season, including its annual chat with head coach Roger Hughes, which will come following the completion of the spring camp.