A&M-Texarkana Hires Joshua Eargle as Inaugural Football Coach

TEXARKANA, Texas – Texas A&M University–Texarkana is proud to announce the hiring of Joshua Eargle as the head coach of the University’s new football program. This landmark hire marks a major milestone as the university begins recruiting immediately to play its inaugural football game in the fall of 2027. This will kick off a new era of A&M-Texarkana Athletics, which includes the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division 2.

“I am deeply privileged to announce the hiring of Joshua Eargle as the inaugural Head Coach for A&M-Texarkana Football,” said Dr. Ross Alexander, President of Texas A&M University-Texarkana. “Due to his vast collegiate coaching experience at all levels, coupled with his intimate knowledge of football in east Texas, he is the ideal candidate to launch a highly competitive Football program at A&M-Texarkana from day one.” 

“We are thrilled to welcome Josh Eargle, a leader who aligns with the values of our university and our community,” said A&M-Texarkana Athletic Director Ryan Wall. “Josh brings a strong football mind with experience on the offensive side, defensive side, and special teams, which will be invaluable as we continue to build our program. This hire reflects our commitment to integrity, student-athlete development, and strong relationships both on campus and throughout the region. We believe Josh will play a key role in elevating our program and making a positive impact on everyone involved.”

“We are excited about the opportunity to be in Texarkana, USA on the A&M-Texarkana campus,” said Eargle. “This program will be the gold standard for NCAA Division 2 football.”

“Coach Eargle is bringing an exciting, fast paced, high scoring offense to Texarkana,” said Chris McCulloch, who served on the head coach search committee and is chair of the TAMUT Community Football Advisory Committee. “With his ties to the east Texas region and his experience at the D1, FCS, and D2 levels, we have no doubt he has what it takes to get this program up and running and put Texas A&M Texarkana football on the map.”

Eargle has more than 20 years of coaching and head coaching experience across collegiate and high school levels, most recently serving as the tight ends coach and offensive run game coordinator at the University of Texas at El Paso.

A native Texan, Eargle returned to his home state in January 2025 to join UTEP after serving as Florida International University’s (FIU) deputy head coach and offensive line coach from 2023–24. During that time, the Panthers led Conference USA in fewest sacks allowed and sacks allowed per game while ranking third in the league in scoring offense. He also directed FIU’s tight ends in 2022, guiding a unit that compiled 668 receiving yards and four touchdowns and produced an NFL signee in Rivaldo Fairweather.

In 2021, Eargle served as an offensive consultant and quarterbacks coach at the University of Memphis, where the Tigers advanced to the Hawaii Bowl and produced three First Team All-AAC selections. Under his guidance, true freshman quarterback Seth Hennigan broke the school’s freshman passing record with 3,322 passing yards.

Eargle made his Big 12 debut at Kansas from 2019–21 as part of Coach Les Miles’ staff, first as an offensive analyst and later as recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach, where he developed the Jayhawks’ hybrid position. He was selected to serve as interim head coach for the West Virginia game on October 17, 2020, when Miles was unable to travel due to COVID-19 protocols.

From 2016–18, Eargle was a key member of the Austin Peay coaching staff, helping engineer one of the most significant turnarounds in the nation as the program rose from one win over four seasons to an 8–4 record. As offensive coordinator in 2018, his offense set Ohio Valley Conference and school records in points, yards per game, touchdowns, and yards per play, while the offensive line ranked among the national top 10 in sacks allowed. He developed multiple All-Americans and all-conference performers during his tenure.

Eargle served three seasons as head coach at East Texas Baptist from 2013–15, culminating in an American Southwest Conference Championship in his third season. The Tigers earned their first national ranking since 2004 with a 7–3 overall record and 4–1 mark in conference play. He was named ASC Coach of the Year in 2015 and produced five All-Americans, 30 all-conference selections, and multiple professional football signees.

His earlier stops include defensive coordinator at Southeastern Oklahoma State (2012), defensive coordinator at Hallsville (Texas) High School (2011), and offensive coordinator at Arkansas–Monticello (2010).

In 2009, Eargle joined national championship coach Les Miles’ staff at LSU as a quality control coach working with the offensive line. The Tigers were ranked as high as No. 4 nationally that season and played in the Capital One Bowl.

From 2007–08, Eargle served as recruiting coordinator and offensive line coach at Nicholls State, where he helped recruit and develop future NFL players including Antonio Robinson, Kareem Moore, and Lardarius Webb, with Robinson later winning Super Bowl XLV with the Green Bay Packers.

Eargle became the offensive line coach at Ouachita Baptist in 2005 before returning to Southern Miss as an assistant offensive line coach in 2006. That season, the Golden Eagles won the Conference USA East title and captured a victory in the New Orleans Bowl.

After playing both defensive and offensive line at Memphis, Eargle began his coaching career at Southern Miss in 2003 as a graduate assistant. He helped the Golden Eagles to a perfect 8–0 Conference USA Championship season and a berth in the AXA Liberty Bowl, followed by a GMAC Bowl win the next year.

A 2001 graduate of Memphis, Eargle received the school’s inaugural Top Tiger Award, presented to a student-athlete who overcame adversity to return to competition. He earned his master’s degree in sports administration from Southern Miss in 2004. His wife, Kristen, is the founder and host of the national podcast Coach’s Wife Life.

Eargle and his wife, Kristen, have three children: Kourtney, Landrey, and Stallings.