Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls

Eric Puryear begins his third year on the Golden Bulls football staff and his second as the Defensive Coordinator. Previously, Puryear was the Defensive Backs coach at JCSU. Prior to his employment at JCSU, he was the Defensive Backs coach and Video Coordinator at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo. In his fi nal season at Missouri Valley College, the Vikings had the Number 1 Pass Defense in the conference only giving up 118.7 yards a contest. Prior to coaching at Missouri Valley College, Puryear was a Graduate Assistant/ Cornerback coach at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo. Puryear also has coaching experience on the high school level at North Forsyth High School in Winston-Salem, N.C. from 2001- 02. He worked with the special teams, the defensive backs, and wide receivers. The fi rst-year Golden Bull coach has professional playing experience after playing the 2001 season with the Johnstown J-Dogs in the NIFL. He also played one season with the Roanoke Steam in the Arena 2 League (2002). Prior to his professional experience, Puryear was a two-year starter at rival North Carolina Central University. He transferred to NCCU from Hampton University after playing two seasons for HU. He played in the National All-Stars Football Game in Cleveland, Ohio in 2001 and recorded eight tackles and two pass breakups. Puryear is a 2001 graduate of NCCU. He earned bachelor[apos]s degree in business administration from NCCU in 2001 and his master[apos]s in business administration from Southwest Baptist University in 2004. Puryear is married to the former Laura Tyson and is the proud father of a fi ve-year old son, Eric, Jr.