Carl Torbush - Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers - Football Coaches

Carl Torbush

Title:
Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers
Email:
cwtorbush@liberty.edu
Start Date:
01/05/2012

Carl Torbush gives Turner Gill a 30-year coaching veteran on his staff, a span that includes head coaching stops at Louisiana Tech (1987) and North Carolina (1998-2000).

Torbush has also served as defensive coordinator at six different FBS programs, including Mississippi (1983-86), North Carolina (1988-98), Alabama (2001-02), Texas A&M (2003-05), Mississippi State (2009) and Kansas (2010-11).

Torbush’s direct coaching responsibility at Liberty will be to guide the Flames’ linebackers, a group that has led Liberty in tackling 10 out of the last 11 years.

Torbush will also look to help adjust Liberty’s defensive scheme from a “3-4” to a “4-3” scheme during the 2012 season.

Torbush comes to Liberty after serving two years under Gill at Kansas as the Jayhawks defensive coordinator and linebackers coach (2010-11).

Prior to joining Gill at Kansas, Torbush spent six out of the previous nine seasons as an FBS defensive coordinator at Mississippi State (2009), Texas A&M (2003-05) and Alabama (2001-02). During each stop, Torbush had direct oversight of each program’s linebacking corp.

During his time at Alabama, Torbush guided the Crimson Tide to a No. 3 final national ranking in 2002 and he was named SEC Assistant Coach of the Year in 2002.

Sandwiched in between his three FBS defensive coordinator stops, Torbush returned to his alma mater and served as assistant head coach and linebackers coach at Carson-Newman for three seasons (2006-08).

During the three-year span, Carson-Newman posted a 25-8 record, spotlighted by a 10-1 record in 2007.

The most notable coaching stop on Torbush’s resume is at North Carolina, where he served as defensive coordinator from 1988-97 before being promoted to head coach for three seasons (1998-2000).

While at North Carolina, Torbush's defense led the ACC in 1995, 1996 and 1997 and he was named National Defensive Coordinator of the Year in 1996.

As head coach of the Tar Heels, Torbush guided North Carolina to the 1998 Las Vegas Bowl. In total, Torbush has been a part of 11 teams that have made bowl appearances.

Prior to his days at North Carolina, Torbush served one season as head coach at Louisiana Tech (1987).

Torbush got his coaching start at Carter High School in Knoxville, Tenn., in 1974 before joining Baylor’s staff as a graduate assistant in 1975.

Torbush received his first full-time coaching position in 1976 at Southeastern Louisiana, where he spent four years as a linebackers and defensive ends coach (1976-79).

Following a three-year stint at Louisiana Tech (1980-82), Torbush was named the defensive coordinator at Mississippi for four seasons (1983-86). During his final year, the Rebels led the SEC in total defense.

During his playing days at Carson-Newman, Torbush was a letterwinner in both football and baseball, earning NAIA All-American first team honors in both sports. The success of his collegiate playing days has earned him a spot in both the Carson-Newman and Knoxville, Tenn., Sports Hall of Fames.

Prior to starting his football coaching career, Torbush played one year of minor league baseball in the Kansas City Royals organization (1975).

Torbush, a native of East Spencer, N.C., earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Carson-Newman in 1974. He would go on to earn a master’s degree from Baylor in physical education in 1976.

Torbush and his wife, Janet, have one son, Trey.

Torbush at a Glance

Year at Liberty: First

Coaching Experience:

2010-11 (2 years) – Kansas (LB)

2009 (1 year) – Mississippi State (Def. Coord./LB)

2006-08 (4 years) – Carson-Newman (Asst. HC/LB)

2003-05 (3 years) – Texas A&M (Def. Coord./LB)

2001-02 (2 years) – Alabama (Def. Coord./LB)

1998-2000 (3 years) – North Carolina (HC)

1988-97 (10 years) – North Carolina (Def. Coord./LB)

1987 (1 year) – Louisiana Tech (HC)