Tennessee State University

Pepe Pearson was hired as running backs coach in May of 2021 after spending five seasons in the same position at Marshall.
 
Multiple running backs gained notoriety under Pearson at Marshall. In 2019, Brenden Knox was named Conference USA’s Most Valuable Player after rushing for 1,387 yards and 11 touchdowns. Keion Davis earned Gasparilla Bowl MVP honors with his 94 yard rushing, two touchdown performance in 2018.

Pearson joined the Thundering Herd after one season in the same position at Youngstown State after spending 10 seasons at Ohio Dominican.

In his final season with the Panthers, ODU finished 11-2 and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. Pearson helped running back Brandon Schoen earn multiple receive All-GLIAC honors on his way to becoming the programs all-time leading rusher.
 
Pearson produced two 1,000 yard rushers in 2013 for the first time in school history and mentored Mike Noffsinger to become a Harlon Hill Trophy semifinalist, honoring the best Division II players in the country.

In his final four seasons with the Panthers, Pearson took over the special teams duties in addition to coaching the running backs.

As a player, Pearson helped Ohio State to four straight bowl appearances from 1994-97, including a 1997 Rose Bowl victory. As a junior, Pearson gained 1,484 yards and scored 17 touchdowns on 299 carries. He was selected All-Big Ten and team Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his efforts. Pearson finished his career as the Buckeyes’ fifth all-time leading rusher with 3,121 yards.

After completing his college career, Pearson played for the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers. He also played in NFL Europe, where he won the 2000 World Bowl Championship with the Rhein Fire, scoring the game-winning touchdown.

Pearson graduated with a degree in Sociology in 1998 from The Ohio State University and earned a Masters in Leadership Studies from Marshall in 2021. He is married to Semoine Pearson and the couple has three children: London, Roman and Mychal.