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Nathan Ollie was chosen as Eastern Kentucky’s defensive line coach in March of 2018.
In his first season with the Colonels, Ollie tutored first team All-Ohio Valley Conference defensive end Aaron Patrick. Patrick registered 7.5 sacks and is now fifth on EKU’s career sacks list. In addition, under Ollie’s guidance redshirt freshman Tre Turner played in all 11 games and started eight times on the defensive line in his first season of game action.
Ollie served as a graduate assistant at the University of Tennessee from the summer of 2015 until joining the Colonel program. While with the Vols, he coached three-time All-Southeastern Conference and First Team All-America defensive lineman Derek Barnett. Barnett broke UT’s career record for sacks (33), which was previously held by the legendary Reggie White (32). Barnett also registered 52 career tackles for a loss, second-most in program history.
Near the end of the 2017 season, Barnett served as Tennessee’s interim defensive line coach.
“Coach Ollie is a very good technician who builds great relationships with his players,” Head Coach Mark Elder said. “He has tremendous energy and gets the defensive line playing physical and with outstanding effort.”
Before joining the UT program, Ollie was a graduate assistant at Ball State University during the spring of 2015. He assisted in the coordination of on campus visits by recruits, assisted with all aspects of the defensive line during spring practice and assisted with special teams.
Ollie earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Ball State in May of 2014. As a member of the Cardinals’ football team, Ollie was a three-time All-Mid-American Conference selection as a defensive lineman. He was a team captain in 2013-14 and the team’s defensive MVP in 2013 and 2014.
| Year |
School |
Position |
Notes |
| 2015 |
Tennessee |
Graduate Assistant |
9-4, won Outback Bowl |
| 2016 |
Tennessee |
Graduate Assistant |
|
| 2017 |
Tennessee |
Graduate Assistant |
|
| 2018 |
Eastern Kentucky |
Defensive Line Coach |
7-4, 3rd OVC |
| 2019 |
Eastern Kentucky |
Defensive Line Coach |
|
