March 7, 2000

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Tony Pierce, a West Virginia assistant coach with over 10 years of collegiate coaching experience, has been named co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach of the Wake Forest football program. Pierce replaces James Bell, who recently resigned to accept a position as the defensive coordinator at Indiana. He will share the defensive coordinator's duties with line coach Theo Lemon, who has been promoted to Assistant Head Coach.

"We are certainly pleased to have Tony Pierce join us at Wake Forest," Head Coach Jim Caldwell said. "He is an excellent addition to our staff who will add a wealth of knowledge and experience in a variety of areas. I am equally pleased to see Theo Lemon take on a larger role in our program. Theo has done an outstanding job with our defensive line, and he will continue to help us improve defensively."

Pierce spent the past season as the defensive secondary coach at West Virginia after two years of working with the Mountaineer running backs, including two-time All-American Amos Zereoue. Prior to West Virginia, Pierce was defensive secondary coach at Pittsburgh (1995-97), defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Delaware State (1994-95), head coach and defensive coordinator at Oberlin College (1992-93), and defensive backs coach at Bucknell (1990-92) and St. Peter's (1986-87). Pierce began his coaching career in his hometown of East Orange, N.J., serving as quarterbacks coach (1983-86) and head coach/offensive coordinator (1987-90) at East Orange High School.

"I look forward to the opportunity to join the Wake Forest staff," Pierce said. "I think I can bring some enthusiasm and excitement to the program, as well as my experience as a coordinator and secondary coach. I've known Jim Caldwell for several years and I think very highly of him. I also know several of the assistant coaches down there, so that was a large factor in my decision as well. My family and I have enjoyed the Carolinas area when we've vacationed there in the past, and we always thought it would be a wonderful place to live."

Pierce is a 1983 graduate of Gettysburg College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in physical education and played defensive back for the Bullets, setting a school record with 16 career interceptions. He was an all-conference defensive back for the semi-professional New Jersey Rams in 1983 before signing a contract with the USFL's Philadelphia Stars in 1984. Pierce earned a master's degree in physical education with a concentration in coaching and sports education from Montclair State in 1989. He and his wife Michelle have three children - Christian, Jordan and Alanna.

Lemon has been the Deacons' defensive line coach for four years, helping Wake Forest to a nationally-ranked rushing defense in two of the past three seasons. Two of the Deacs' four down linemen earned All-ACC honors in 1999.