Defensive Coordinator - University of South Carolina Chris Cosh is a dynamic recruiter and excellent defensive mind. Gamecock linebackers continue to play a vital role in the overall success of the Gamecock defense. One of Coach Cosh’s pupils, senior Kalimba Edwards, was a semi-finalist for both the Butkus and Rotary Lombardi Awards and for the second year in a row, was a consensus first-team All-SEC selection. Coach Cosh also did a superb job in blending in young talent like Jeremiah Garrison and Jermaine Lemon with veterans like Edwards and Kenny Harney and JuCo Darrel Slay. Edwards was a second-round draft pick by the Detroit Lions and Harney signed a free agent contract with Green Bay. Recent newcomers such as the highly touted Ricardo Hurley have show huge leaps and gains in talent and skill under Cosh.

Cosh coached Carolina's John Abraham, who earned All-SEC honors and went on to be the No. 1 pick of the New York Jets. Another Cosh pupil at USC, Corey Atkins, was USC's leading tackler in 1999 and played last season with the Atlanta Falcons.

Cosh came to USC after a one-year stint as the defensive coordinator at Michigan State. In 1998, the Spartans upset then No. 1-ranked Ohio State and also knocked off national powerhouse Notre Dame. Michigan State ranked 10th nationally in pass defense that season.

Cosh coached linebackers at Maryland in 1997 and also served as the Terrapins’ recruiting coordinator that season. In 1997 two of his linebackers, Eric Barton and Kendal Ogle, were the No. 2 and No. 3 tacklers in the ACC. From 1992-96, he coached linebackers at Illinois where two linebackers, Dana Howard (1994) and Kevin Hardy (1995), won back to back Butkus Awards. The 42-year-old Cosh came to Maryland following five seasons at Illinois (1992-96) where he coached under Lou Tepper. He served as the Fighting Illini’s defensive coordinator in 1996 and assistant head coach in 1995. During his tenure as inside linebackers coach, Cosh tutored Howard, who ended his career in 1994 as the Big Ten Player of the Year with the most tackles ever in Big Ten history. The Illini defense was nationally ranked three straight years during Cosh's tenure: 14th in 1993, 9th in 1994 and 21st in 1995. Cosh previously spent one year as defensive line coach for John Gutekunst at Minnesota (1991). His full-time coaching credits also include stops at UNLV (inside linebackers coach, 1990), Southeast Missouri State (defensive coordinator, 1989) and Wisconsin-Oshkosh (defensive coordinator, 1985-88).

He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant under Lou Holtz at Minnesota (1984) and his alma mater Virginia Tech (1983). A native of Washington, D.C., Cosh played linebacker and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Virginia Tech in 1984. He and his wife, Mary, have two sons: James Joseph (14) and Billy (10).