Josh Aldridge, a native of Jackson, is honored for his accomplishments as a collegiate football coach and as a football player at Harding University and Jackson Christian School.
The son of Steven and June Aldridge, he was a two-time, all-state defensive end at Jackson Christian and helped the Eagles become the 2006 Class 1A state champions when he was a junior. Jackson Christian is the only Jackson school to have won a football state championship since playoffs began in 1969.
Aldridge, 35, earned his bachelor’s degree at Harding University, where he realized he wanted to coach football.
“I grew up around a courtroom and always thought I wanted to be a lawyer or work in the judicial or justice system,” Aldridge said. “Law school was at the front of my mind, but I quickly figured out just because you’re good in school doesn’t mean you like it.
“I looked around for leaders who impacted people’s lives, and my position coach (at Harding), Paul Simmons, was the best leader I had ever seen. I knew that’s what I wanted to do and made that plan early in college.”
Aldridge begins his 13th year as a collegiate coach. After a two-year stay as a defensive assistant at Auburn University under head coach Hugh Freeze, Aldridge is the new defensive coordinator at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C.
“Josh is extremely knowledgeable, and his work efforts have carried over with him, only increasing with every staff he’s been a part of,” Freeze said. “Josh has identified himself as a leader with many necessary qualities of determination and hard work ethic. He is passionate about the game of football and about his role in a position of leadership.”
“In addition to his football coaching abilities, Josh displays outstanding attitude and commitment,” Freeze said. “He is committed to the game and the betterment of those around him.”
Aldridge followed Freeze to Auburn after coaching four seasons (2019-2022) at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., where he served as Freeze’s defensive line coach and defensive coordinator. He was the interim head coach when Liberty played in the 2022 Boca Raton Bowl.
In 2021 he was a nominee for the Frank Broyles Award, which is presented annually to the top college assistant football coach.
Previously, as the defensive coordinator at Lenoir Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C., he helped lead the Bears to a national No. 1 ranking in turnovers caused and a No. 9 ranking in scoring defense during a 12-win season.
At the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Ga., from 2014 to 2017, he worked as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. West Georgia won the Gulf South Conference championship in 2015.
“Recruiting is the same as it’s always been,” Aldridge said. “The motivation to get them to your school has just changed. With the transfer portal, it has unfortunately given those who are having to fight through tough times or those who are at the top of the mountain an easy way out to believe the grass is always greener.
“I think more than ever, young men need even more leadership to navigate through this current state of college athletics. They’re being treated as professionals/adults without necessarily having the maturity or experience to handle it properly.”
During his time at UWG, the school earned three Division II playoff berths, back-to-back 12-win seasons and two NCAA Playoff Super Region 2 Finals.
At Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia, Ark., Aldridge was the defensive line coach after working as a defensive graduate assistant at Lindenwood in 2013.
Aldridge was a four-year starter at Harding University in Searcy, Ark. He was a team captain and twice selected as All-Gulf South Conference. A finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy – recognized as the Heisman Trophy for academics – he ranks fourth all-time at Harding in sacks and tackles for loss and second all-time in blocked kicks.
At Jackson Christian, he was the 2006 Region 8-1A Defensive Player of the Year after recording 141 tackles, including nine sacks, during the state championship season.
“What I remember most about that year was that we started our season at two (wins) and three (losses) and really had to come together as a team,” he said. “During our playoff run, we had our backs against the wall on a fourth down and converted for a touchdown to beat Lake County. After we won that game, we dominated in the semifinals and state championship.”
Brian Stewart, who coached Aldridge in three sports at JCS, said Josh has the heart you wish every kid who competes would desire to have.
“I have never witnessed an individual with more self-discipline and drive than Josh,” Stewart said. “Jackson Christian won a state championship because he was the catalyst – a leader, a warrior … He inspired all around him to be better. Josh was an absolute dominate high school football player who overachieved because of his mentality. Nothing has changed.”
During his Eagles career, Aldridge made more than 300 tackles. His senior season in 2007 he led the team in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks. He was Class 2-A All-State, All-West State and the Region 8-2A Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Josh and his wife, Jessica Aldridge, have two children: Braxton, 9, and Nora, 7.
The 39th Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame Banquet will be held at the Carl Perkins Civic Center, 6:30 p.m., Thursday, April 10.
For tickets and reservations for the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame event, call Beth Sedberry (731) 616-8558.
(PHOTO: Josh Aldridge)
