March 27, 2002

Waugh Named Defensive
Coordinator at Wayne State

DETROIT  - Wayne State University Director of Athletics Rob Fournier and head football coach Steve Kazor announced today the hiring of Maurice “Maury” Waugh as defensive coordinator.

“I look forward to the addition of Maury Waugh to our football coaching staff,” said Fournier. “His background, experience and personal style should greatly assist our football program. His expertise in coordinating defenses is a much needed boost to our program.”

Waugh, a 40-year veteran of coaching, spent the last four seasons (1998-2001) as Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator and linebacker coach at Western Carolina University. He was an assistant head coach and defensive line coach in 1997 at WCU.

Under Waugh’s direction, the Catamounts’ 1998 defense became the first WCU unit to lead the Southern Conference (SoCon) in total defense, surrendering just 280.5 yards per game to rank 10th nationally. WCU allowed 92.5 passing yards per game to rank 13th nationally. Catamount free safety Eric Johnson was named SoCon Defensive player of the Year and was a consensus first team All-America.

Last season, WCU finished 7-4 overall and 5-3 in the Southern Conference. The Catamounts were second in the league in pass defense (130.8 ypg) and fourth in total defense (303.1 ypg), while causing 24 turnovers. WCU was second in passing defense efficiency at 95.8.

Waugh is a 1958 graduate of Aledo (Ill.) High School and started all four years (1958-61) at the University of Dubuque as a fullback.

His coaching career began in 1962 as head coach at Westmer High School in Illinois. The following season he moved to Vandalia High School, also in Illinois, where he served as an assistant coach for two seasons. He then became head coach at Clinton Central High School (1965-66) in Indiana and earned a master’s degree in physical education from Indiana in 1966.

Waugh’s first collegiate coaching position was at his alma mater, University of Dubuque. He was defensive coordinator for two seasons (1967-68) before spending six seasons (1969-74) as head coach. He then spent five years (1975-79) as head coach at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa.

After spending three seasons (1980-82) at Drake University, Waugh coached at Northwestern University from 1983-1991. After Northwestern, he moved up Lake Michigan to become head coach at Lake Forest College (1992-1994). Waugh was the running backs coach at the University of Pacific in 1995 and returned to Illinois after Pacific dropped football. He spent one season as running backs coach at Libertyville High School before joining the WCU staff.

Waugh and his wife, Sandy, are the parents of four sons: Jordan (33), Tucker (31), Ethan (27) and Adam (23).

The Warriors begin the 2002 campaign at Northern Iowa on August 29.