ARKADELPHIA – Former Ouachita Baptist University All-American TJ Cole has been hired as the new running backs coach for the Tiger football program.

Cole is back in Arkadelphia after a three-year tenure as an assistant football and soccer coach at Pleasant Grove High School in Texarkana, Texas. He replaces Whit Jones, who is moving into the business sector after coaching multiple position groups over the past three seasons with the Tigers.

From 2018-2022, Cole became one of the most decorated football student-athletes to ever wear a Ouachita uniform. He owns school records for rushing yards, touchdowns, and scoring in a season with 1,672 yards on the ground, 26 trips to the endzone, and 156 total points in the 2022 Great American Conference championship run that featured an undefeated regular season and an appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs. His 1,530 rushing yards and 17 rushing scores in the year prior ranks fourth and ninth, respectively.

Cole ranks second in program history in career rushing yards (3,986), second in career touchdowns (49), and fourth in career scoring (294 points). He became Ouachita football's first-ever two-time First Team All-American with AFCA honors in 2021 and 2022.

As a senior in 2022, Cole finished fifth in the voting for the Harlon Hill Award, which is presented annually to the top player in NCAA Division II football. Also in 2022, Cole won the Darren McFadden Award as the top collegiate running back in the state of Arkansas.

"I'm so thankful for Whit Jones and all he has done for our football program over the past three seasons," said Ouachita Head Football Coach Todd Knight. "I'm excited to have someone of TJ Cole's caliber to fill that role. TJ understands our program and is a great fit in all aspects."

"I'm excited and grateful for the opportunity to join Ouachita Baptist University as the running backs coach," said Cole. "I'm ready to build relationships, develop young men, and chase championships while doing things the right way."

Cole is a 2022 graduate of Ouachita with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology.