STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The depth of experience amongst the Tarleton Football coaching staff keeps growing, this time on the offensive side as the Texans announced Friday they have hired Pepe Pearson as an assistant coach to lead the running backs.
 
Pearson arrives in Stephenville with 22 seasons of collegiate coaching experience, with stops at Tennessee State (2021-22), Marshall (2016-20), Youngstown State (2015) and Ohio Dominican (2001-14). Pearson starred as a running back himself in the 1990s, playing for several NFL teams after rushing for over 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns at Ohio State.  
 
"We're very blessed to be able to hire Pepe, a highly, highly decorated player back in the mid-90's," head coach Todd Whitten said. "He's been highly recommended by every head coach he's ever worked for, so I feel very fortunate to get him at this late day. I think he's going to be really good for our backs. It's always good when a guy has played the position at the highest level to continue coaching that. He's just a really good hire for us and he's an equally good person. I'm excited and looking forward to working with him."
 
Pearson coached under his former Buckeye teammate Eddie George the last two seasons at Tennessee State. Last year his main two running backs totaled 1,153 yards on 245 carries (4.7 YPG). In 2021, he helped his lead back to Second Team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors.
 
"I would like to thank Coach Whitten for giving me this amazing opportunity to coach in the great state of Texas and work with an outstanding group of coaches," Pearson said. "I am also excited to work with a talented group of players. I have had amazing support in my short time here and the people at Tarleton State University have certainly extended a warm welcome to me and my family. I am ready to get to work and help this team achieve a high standard of success on the gridiron. Go Texans!"
 
Pearson spent five years as the running backs coach at Marshall, where he helped lead the Conference USA's Most Valuable Player to the tune of 1,387 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in his award-winning season. The Herd made a bowl game in each of his last four seasons there.
 
Before a season spent at Youngstown State, Pearson served 14 seasons at Ohio Dominican, where the Panthers won four conference championships. He was the running backs coach and special teams coordinator there. In 2013, Pearson had two 1,000-yard rushers, the first time in school history a pair reached the 1,000-yard mark in the same season.  
 
As a running back himself, Pearson spent time with the Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns. George and Pearson shared the backfield at Ohio State for two seasons (1994-95), and in 1996, Pearson became a preseason Heisman candidate. That year he exploded for 1,484 yards on 299 carries (5.0 YPG) and 17 touchdowns in 12 games. He led the Buckeyes to a Rose Bowl win in 1997. Across his four-year career at Ohio State, Pearson was twice All-Big Ten, twice the team's MVP, and the Buckeyes went 41-10.
 
The Euclid, Ohio, native, was the runner-up Mr. Ohio at the prep level. He rushed for nearly 4,500 yards and 49 touchdowns in high school, earning a USA Today All-American award and Northeast Ohio Player of the Year honors.
 
Pearson and his wife, Semoine, have three children.