RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State head football coach Dave Doeren has announced the hiring of John Garrison as the Wolfpack’s new offensive line coach. Garrison joins the program after spending last season at Florida Atlantic.

“I’m excited that John Garrison is going to join our football family,” said Doeren. “I’ve known him for a long time and respect him as a coach and as a person. He was a great player at Nebraska and has established himself as a great coach and recruiter and I know he will be a strong addition to our staff.”

At FAU, Garrison coached the offensive line and served as run game coordinator. Inheriting a unit that had lost three starters from the previous season his 2018 line ranked 14th in the FBS in sacks allowed, giving up just 1.17 per game. The Owls also led Conference USA and ranked 14th nationally in rushing with 241.8 yards per contest.

“My family and I are thrilled to join the Wolfpack family at NC State as a part of coach Doeren’s staff,” said Garrison. “It’s a privilege to represent this great university and to work for a great coach. Big things are happening at NC State and I cannot wait to get started!”

Prior to his stint at FAU, Garrison coached three season at UNLV (2015-17) with the same title. During his first season in Las Vegas, the Rebel line helped the team post a dramatic improvement in the run game, finishing 36th in the nation in yards per game. In 2017 the Rebels finished 15th in the country in rushing and set the school record for fewest quarterback sacks allowed.

Garrison joined the Rebels’ staff after completing seven seasons on the staff at his alma mater Nebraska, serving as offensive line coach (2013-14), tight ends and assistant offensive line coach (2011-12) and as an intern (2008-10). Six of his former players at Nebraska were on NFL rosters at the start of the 2018 season: Alex Lewis (Ravens), Brent Qvale (Jets), Spencer Long (Jets), Jerimiah Sirles (Bills), Matt Slausen (Colts) and Zach Sterup (Dolphins)

He was the Huskers’ offensive line coach for their 2014 appearance in the Holiday Bowl against USC. That season, his offensive line paved the way for I-back Ameer Abdullah to earn second team All-America honors after compiling 1,523 yards and 18 scores on the ground.

Garrison’s offensive line paved the way for another big rushing season for the Huskers in 2013, as the Huskers ranked 19th nationally with an average of 215.7 rushing yards per game and Abdullah rushed for 1,690 yards this season, the highest total by a Husker since 1997. A first-team All-Big Ten selection and one of 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award, Abdullah rushed for at least 85 yards in every game that season behind Garrison’s line, including a school-record 11 100-yard efforts.

Nebraska’s line has also protected the passer well, allowing an average of only 1.3 sacks per game, a total that ranked 23rd nationally. The line was led by three all-conference performers.

Garrison was also honored for his exceptional work on the recruiting trail while in Lincoln, as Rivals.com tabbed Garrison as one the nation’s top 25 recruiters in 2014.

The offensive line helped Nebraska rank eighth nationally with 253.4 rushing yards per game in 2012.

Individually, Garrison helped guard Spencer Long complete a journey from walk-on to All-American. A consensus first-team All-Big Ten selection, Long was named a second-team All-American by both the Associated Press and the Walter Camp Foundation. In addition to Long, former walk-on center Justin Jackson, a converted defensive lineman, earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten accolades from the league’s coaches in his only full season as an offensive lineman. Offensive tackle Jeremiah Sirles was a second-team all-conference selection, giving Nebraska three all-conference offensive linemen in 2012.

In 2011, Garrison and veteran offensive line coach Barney Cotton developed an offensive line that paved the way for a Husker rushing attack that ranked 15th nationally, averaging 217.2 yards per game. In addition to his overall work with the line, Garrison has played a key role in the development of several underclassmen and walk-ons.

Before being elevated to a full-time role in 2011, Garrison spent the previous three seasons as a football intern with the offensive line in conjunction with the strength and conditioning staff.

Garrison joined the Nebraska staff in March of 2008 after spending four years at Blue Springs (Mo.) High School as an assistant coach and special education teacher.

A native of Blue Spring, Mo., Garrison was a four-year letterman for Frank Solich at Nebraska from 1999 to 2002, earning honorable-mention All-Big 12 accolades as a junior and senior. Garrison was Nebraska’s starting long snapper as a true freshman in 1999, helping the Huskers to a 12-1 record and Big 12 title. He was a backup center and guard, and handled long snapping duties in 2000.

In 2001, Garrison moved into the lineup as the starting center and helped Nebraska to an appearance in the BCS National Championship Game, while quarterback Eric Crouch won the Heisman Trophy. In his senior season, Garrison was elected by his teammates as one of three co-captains.

A 2003 Nebraska graduate with a degree in secondary education, Garrison and his wife Jamie have four children: Lilly (10), Jack (7) Valerie (6) and new baby Beau.

Garrison Coaching Experience
2019 – NC State – Offensive Line Coach
2018 – FAU — Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator
2015-17 – UNLV — Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line
2013-14 – Nebraska — Offensive Line
2011-12 – Nebraska — Assistant Offensive Line & Tight Ends
2008-10 – Nebraska — Intern
2005-07 – Blue Springs (Mo.) High School — assistant coach