Lester Towns Named Vikings' New Linebackers Coach
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Lester Towns has been named Portland State's new linebackers coach in 2012. He will also serve the vital role of Recruiting Coordinator for the program.
Towns comes to Portland State after spending four seasons at the University of Alabama as an assistant strength coach and defensive assistant. During that span, the Crimson Tide went 48-6 and twice won the BCS National Championship. In 2011, Alabama led the nation in six major defensive categories (rushing defense, passing defense, total defense, scoring defense, pass efficiency defense, and third-down conversion defense).
At Alabama, Towns worked with three first team All-Americans (Dont'a Hightower, Courtney Upshaw and Rolando McClain).
“Lester is a guy that I was very familiar with, and I know what is important to him. It's more than just football, it's about the kids,” said Viking Coach Nigel Burton. “He is an extremely intelligent guy, and he has been around great coaching from his days at Washington, to his time in the NFL, to working with Nick Saban the last four years.”
Towns will have plenty of talent to work with at Portland State in 2012. Returning starters include second team All-Big Sky Conference Ian Sluss, honorable mention All-Big Sky Joel Sisler as well as talented returners Khalil Bass and Dionte Brooks.
PSU also has a heralded group of linebacker recruits in Daniel Halverson, Zach Walen and Brandon Brody-Heim.
Towns had a decorated playing career, graduating from the University of Washington in 1999. He was an All-Pac-10 player under Jim Lambright and Rick Neuheisel as well as a two-year team captain. Towns also won the team Community Service Award.
While at Washington, Towns was a teammate of Burton's for three years.
Drafted by Carolina of the NFL in 2000, Towns played with the Panthers for five seasons, set a rookie tackles record with the team and participated in Super Bowl XXXVIII. Towns also played with Arizona and Miami, spending seven seasons in the NFL.
THE LESTER TOWNS FILE
1st year at Portland State
Hometown: Pasadena, CA
Alma Mater: Washington, 1999, Sociology
Playing Career: Washington, 1995-99, linebacker; Carolina (NFL) 2000-04, Arizona (NFL) 2005, Miami (NFL) 2006
Date of Birth: August 28, 1977
Family: Wife, Nakish; children, Jamil (19), Juell (15), Jordan (7)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2008-11 Alabama, Assistant Strength Coach/Defensive Assistant
2008 Carolina Panthers, Coaching Intern
RECRUITING AREAS
Oregon leagues: Central Valley, Mid-Willamette, Tri-Valley, Wilsonville
Out of state: southern California
http://www.goviks.com/news/2012/3/22/FB_0322120703.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Lester Towns has been named Portland State's new linebackers coach in 2012. He will also serve the vital role of Recruiting Coordinator for the program.
Towns comes to Portland State after spending four seasons at the University of Alabama as an assistant strength coach and defensive assistant. During that span, the Crimson Tide went 48-6 and twice won the BCS National Championship. In 2011, Alabama led the nation in six major defensive categories (rushing defense, passing defense, total defense, scoring defense, pass efficiency defense, and third-down conversion defense).
At Alabama, Towns worked with three first team All-Americans (Dont'a Hightower, Courtney Upshaw and Rolando McClain).
“Lester is a guy that I was very familiar with, and I know what is important to him. It's more than just football, it's about the kids,” said Viking Coach Nigel Burton. “He is an extremely intelligent guy, and he has been around great coaching from his days at Washington, to his time in the NFL, to working with Nick Saban the last four years.”
Towns will have plenty of talent to work with at Portland State in 2012. Returning starters include second team All-Big Sky Conference Ian Sluss, honorable mention All-Big Sky Joel Sisler as well as talented returners Khalil Bass and Dionte Brooks.
PSU also has a heralded group of linebacker recruits in Daniel Halverson, Zach Walen and Brandon Brody-Heim.
Towns had a decorated playing career, graduating from the University of Washington in 1999. He was an All-Pac-10 player under Jim Lambright and Rick Neuheisel as well as a two-year team captain. Towns also won the team Community Service Award.
While at Washington, Towns was a teammate of Burton's for three years.
Drafted by Carolina of the NFL in 2000, Towns played with the Panthers for five seasons, set a rookie tackles record with the team and participated in Super Bowl XXXVIII. Towns also played with Arizona and Miami, spending seven seasons in the NFL.
THE LESTER TOWNS FILE
1st year at Portland State
Hometown: Pasadena, CA
Alma Mater: Washington, 1999, Sociology
Playing Career: Washington, 1995-99, linebacker; Carolina (NFL) 2000-04, Arizona (NFL) 2005, Miami (NFL) 2006
Date of Birth: August 28, 1977
Family: Wife, Nakish; children, Jamil (19), Juell (15), Jordan (7)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2008-11 Alabama, Assistant Strength Coach/Defensive Assistant
2008 Carolina Panthers, Coaching Intern
RECRUITING AREAS
Oregon leagues: Central Valley, Mid-Willamette, Tri-Valley, Wilsonville
Out of state: southern California
