Rodney Allison

Rodney Allison (born January 29, 1956 in Odessa, Texas) is an American college football coach. He was the former head football coach of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, holding the position from 2003 to 2008. He guided the Mocs to a 17–51 overall record. Allison is a graduate of Texas Tech University, receiving a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education, where he played as the starting quarterback on the Texas Tech Red Raiders football team.

As a player
Allison started at the quarterback position for Texas Tech under head coach Steve Sloan for three years from 1975-77. During his tenure, he participated in three bowl appearances for the Red Raiders: the 1974 Peach Bowl, the 1976 Bluebonnet Bowl, and the 1977 Tangerine Bowl.

He received the MVP honor by the Southwest Conference after the 1976 season, after leading the Red Raiders to a 10-1 regular season record and a shared Southwest Conference title with Houston.

For his performance as a player, he was nominated for the Heisman Trophy. After graduating from Texas Tech, Allison was undrafted by the NFL, but went on to play one year for the CFL Toronto Argonauts.

He was inducted into the Texas Tech Athletic Hall of Honor in 2003.

Coaching career
Allison was hired on by Texas Tech as a graduate assistant in 1979. From 1981-1983, Allison was promoted to Running backs coach, a position he would hold at several schools. After the 1983 season, Steve Sloan, Allison's former coach at Texas Tech hired him on as the running backs coach for Duke.

Allison coached at various positions at Southern Miss from 1988-1992. From 1993-1997, he was the running backs coach at Auburn, and took on the additional role of offensive coordinator during the 1998 season. From 1999-2003, he served as defensive ends coach for Clemson.

In 2003 again his former coach Steve Sloan, then the athletic director at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, hired Allison on as the head coach of the Chattanooga Mocs.

On October 21, 2008, University of Teneessee at Chattanooga athletic director Rick Hart announced that Allison would be relieved of coaching duties after the 2008 season. Allison lead the Mocs to a 17–51 overall record.

Personal life
Allison is married and has two children, Ashleigh and Sloan. His son Sloan is named after Allison's former head coach Steve Sloan.