J.J McCleskey - Football Coach - Tulane University Athletics

J.J McCleskey

Title:
Defensive Backs
Email:
tmccleskey@tulane.edu
Hometown:
Knoxville, Tenn.

J.J. McCleskey has made huge impacts in his five seasons working with the Green Wave’s defensive backs, as he helped establish Tulane’s secondary as one of the best in the American Athletic Conference.

The 2023 season saw Tulane’s defense ranked first in the league in interceptions (17) and turnovers gained (27) plus second in the league in total defense (341.3). McCleskey saw three of his defensive backs selected as All-AAC in Jarius Monroe (First Team), Kam Pedescleaux (Second Team) and Lance Robinson (Second Team).

In 2022, under McCleskey’s leadership, the secondary unit finished the season ranked second in the AAC in interceptions. Monroe led the team in interceptions, including one in the 2023 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

During the 2021 season, McCleskey’s secondary unit played a pivotal role in helping the Green Wave defense rank among the league’s Top 5 in scoring defense, interceptions and redzone defense.

Tulane’s 2020 secondary unit led The American (tied for 14th overall) in passes broken up with 42. In addition, the Green Wave’s 51 passes defended ranked second in the AAC and tied for 19th in the nation, while  their nine interceptions ranked 35th nationally.

In 2019, the Green Wave’s secondary snagged 12 interceptions, which ranked tied for third in The American and 31st nationally. Four of the Green Wave’s 12 interceptions came from Larry Brooks. He led the team and ranked second in the conference and 23rd in the nation.

Thakarius Keyes was named Third Team All-AAC by Phil Steele Magazine and honorable mention by The America under McCleskey’s tutelage. Keyes was drafted in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.

In 2018, Tulane’s secondary intercepted 12 passes, which ranked fourth in The American and 40th nationally. Three of the Green Wave’s 12 interceptions came from the hands of Donnie Lewis Jr.

Lewis’ three interceptions led the team and were tied for sixth-best in The American, while his 1.6 passes defended ranked fourth nationally and led the league. Following the year, Lewis earned Second Team All-AAC honors.

In April of 2019, Lewis was selected in the seventh round of the NFL Draft.

McCleskey also played a major role in enhancing the Green Wave’s recruiting efforts. After he joined the Tulane football program as an assistant coach in January 2018 he helped the Green Wave secure their best recruiting class since 2004 (247Sports.com).

McCleskey played eight years in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints and the Arizona Cardinals from 1993-00. A versatile athlete, he spent time on offense, defense and special teams in both college and professional football. Most recently, McCleskey trained and mentored athletes on and off the field through Mental Edge Sports, which he founded in 2012.

McCleskey joined the Saints in 1994 as an undrafted free agent, and played wide receiver his first season before moving to defensive back. In his career, he totaled 44 tackles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries, contributing on defense and special teams.

A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, McCleskey attended the University of Tennessee as a walk-on athlete and was eventually elected a team captain by his teammates as a senior. He played cornerback, safety and receiver, helping lead the Volunteers to SEC Championships in 1989 and 1990 and four bowl appearances including the Cotton Bowl, Sugar Bowl and Fiesta Bowl. He holds the distinction as being the first ever Tennessee football walk-on to be named a team captain.

A resident of Louisiana for 25 years, McCleskey founded ME Sports to train and support athletes. He coached and mentored more than 70 athletes that have moved on to play at the collegiate level. He also served as head coach of the Louisiana Bootleggers 7-on-7 squad from 2015-17. He led the Bootleggers to a second-place finish at the 7-on-7 national championship in 2015 and was a part of the program’s 2014 national championship.

In 2017, McCleskey was elected into the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame.

McCleskey received his bachelor’s degree political science from Tennessee in 1992. His wife, Susan, received her MBA from the Tulane A.B. Freeman School of Business in 1993. McCleskey and his wife have two sons – Jalen and Justin.