Bro. Charlie Strong | Iota Pi Chapter

Bro. Charles Rene Strong was born in Batesville, Arkansas, one of six children of Delois Ramsey. His father, also named Charles Strong, worked as a teacher and coach in Luxora, Arkansas. Strong grew up in a blended household, sharing his childhood with his aunt and her six children. After playing as a defensive back at the University of Central Arkansas from 1980 to 1983, he joined the University of Florida coaching staff as a graduate assistant in 1983. He would later serve in the same role at Texas A&M in 1985. Strong earned a master’s degree from Henderson State University, and later completed a master’s degree and an education specialist degree from the University of Florida.

Currently, Strong is the defensive line coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL. He’s a two-time Conference Coach of the Year and most recently served as the inside linebackers coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021. With over four decades of coaching experience, Strong has been part of three national championship teams (2006, 2008, 2020), and is widely recognized as one of the top defensive coaches and recruiters in the country.

Strong's coaching career began in 1986 at Southern Illinois, where he worked as a wide receivers coach. He later took on defensive coaching roles at Florida, Ole Miss, and Notre Dame.

In 1999, Strong became the defensive coordinator for the South Carolina Gamecocks, where his intense defensive strategies and dynamic personality drew attention. Many speculated he could become the first Black head coach in the SEC, though job offers were limited at the time. Sylvester Croom eventually broke that barrier in 2004.

Strong returned to Florida as defensive coordinator before the 2003 season. When head coach Ron Zook was fired during the 2004 season, Strong served as the interim head coach for the Gators during their Peach Bowl loss to Miami. When Urban Meyer became head coach in 2005, Strong was retained as an assistant coach.

On December 9, 2009, Strong was named the 21st head coach of the University of Louisville. In an interview that same day, former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy praised Strong, stating, “When they see what he can do, you’re probably going to have a lot of people disappointed they didn’t hire him sooner.” Strong led Louisville to a memorable 33-23 victory over Florida in the 2013 Sugar Bowl, the largest upset in BCS bowl game history, with Florida favored by nearly two touchdowns.

Strong’s head coaching career also included stints at the University of Texas (2014-2016) and the University of South Florida (2017-2019). During his four years at Louisville, he posted a 37–15 record and led the team to a bowl game every year, including the Sugar Bowl. After leaving Louisville, Strong struggled at Texas, where he posted a 16-21 record over three seasons before being let go. He then took the reins at South Florida, where he guided the Bulls to a 21-16 record before being dismissed in 2019.

In 2021, Strong reconnected with Urban Meyer, joining the Jacksonville Jaguars as assistant to the head coach and inside linebackers coach. In 2022, he was appointed co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at the University of Miami. However, in 2023, Strong chose not to return to Miami after being passed over for the defensive coordinator position.

Strong also spent three years as a defensive analyst for the University of Alabama under Nick Saban in 2020. His work contributed to Alabama’s victory in the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship.

Throughout his distinguished career, Strong has spent 18 of his 38 seasons coaching in Florida and has served as an FBS head coach for 10 seasons at Louisville, Texas, and USF, and has developed 13 All-Americans, as well as a National Defensive Player of the Year during his tenure at the University of Florida.

Bro. Strong is married to Victoria Lovallo, and together they have three children: a son named Tory and two daughters, Hailee and Hope.

3X Broyles Award finalist, 2X Big East Coach of the Year, and induction into the UCA Sports Hall of Fame.