Football
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator
Eric Schumann begins his fifth year as Tulane's defensive coordinator and his 27th season as a coach in 2006. Schumann is in his third season working with the Green Wave safeties after working with the Wave's inside linebackers during his first two seasons in New Orleans. He directs the entire Tulane defensive staff.
The Illinois native made an immediate impact on the Wave defense as Tulane ranked sixth in Conference USA in 2002 after finishing last in 2001. TU gained more turnovers than any other team in the country in 2002, and led C-USA in turnover margin again in 2003. He coached Anthony Cannon to freshman All-America honors in 2002. A year ago, Tulane's starting safeties ranked among the team's top three tacklers and the defense posted one of its top national rankings in years as they were 54th in total defense and ranked 13th in pass defense.
Schumann came to Tulane in January of 2002 after a successful five-year stint as assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at SMU.
The Mustang defense led the Western Athletic Conference and ranked No. 22 in the nation in total defense in 2001. SMU surrendered just 122 yards per game, and was ranked 35th in pass efficiency defense. Schumann's 1998 defense achieved a final ranking of No. 14 overall and was 12th in pass efficiency.
He coached 13 players who were named to the All-WAC team. Two Mustang defensive backs -Donald Mitchell and Jacoby Rhinehart- were selected in the 1999 NFL Draft.
Prior to going to SMU, Schumann was the defensive coordinator at East Tennessee State for five seasons, helping the Buccaneers to 10 wins and the second round of the I-AA playoffs in 1996. Schumann's other coaching stops included a three-year stint at Valdosta State and one year each at Livingston, New Mexico and Troy State.
The two-time Broyles Award nominee (National Assistant Coach of the Year) was a defensive back at Alabama from 1973-77. During that time, the Tide won four SEC championship teams and claimed the 1973 UPI national title. Schumann, who earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Alabama, has a son, Glenn (16) and a daughter, Erica (14).
Personal
Family: Single; Son, Glenn (16); Daughter, Erica (14).
Coaching Experience
| 2002- | Tulane |
| 1997-2001 | SMU |
| 1992-96 | East Tennessee State |
| 1990-91 | Valdosta State |
| 1989 | Livingston |
| 1987-88 | Pierce County (Ga.) HS |
| 1986 | New Mexico |
| 1983-85 | Valdosta State |
| 1982 | Troy State |
| 1978-81 | McAdory (Ala.) HS |
Playing Experience
Alabama (1973-77)
Bowl Experience
As a Coach
2002 Hawai'i
As a Player
1978 Sugar
1976 Liberty
Education
College: Alabama, B.S. (1977); M.Ed. (1978)
High School: Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ill.) HS (1973)
