Exploring the latest on ETSU HC Will Healy after his hiring last month

Will Healy was announced as the new coach of East Tennessee State University on Dec. 12. Healy, a Chattanooga, Tennessee native, is ETSU’s 21st head coach.

Healy replaced Tre Lamb, who left the program for Tulsa. Known for his ability to rebuild programs, Healy previously led Austin Peay to an 8-4 record in 2017 after inheriting a winless team.

His performance earned him the Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year award and the prestigious Eddie Robinson Award for the top FCS coach in the nation.

As the offseason begins, Healy has wasted no time outlining his goals for ETSU. He has made a name for reshaping teams and he emphasized building a roster that reflects the hard-working spirit of Johnson City.

“I would expect us to have an extremely tough, resilient, together football team,” Healy said during his introductory press conference. “A team that enjoys playing football – plays with a ton of energy, has fun with one another, celebrates each other’s success.”

On offense, Healy highlighted the importance of a dynamic quarterback who can create challenges for opposing defenses. He plans to focus on creating pressure on defense and maintaining strong fundamentals with the front four.

Following his success at Austin Peay, Healy coached Charlotte from 2019 to 2022 before moving into analyst and assistant coaching roles at UCF and Georgia State.

Will Healy embraces new role as ETSU HC

Nearly a month after taking the reins at ETSU, Will Healy is adjusting well to his new role and surroundings in Johnson City. He shared with News Channel 11 that he and his family are finding comfort in their new home.

“Everything I was hoping for from a home perspective, it’s been that – and probably more,” Healy said on Wednesday.

Healy has felt the community's support, whether dining downtown or attending basketball games at Freedom Hall.

“It’s a great city that cares about football,” Healy said. “It’s a fanbase where football is important.”

On recruiting, Healy emphasized a calculated approach to the transfer portal, targeting only players who can make an immediate impact.

“You don’t reach right now, because you still have the spring portal window,” Healy said.

Will Healy gets new key coordinators

One of Healy’s first moves as ETSU coach was appointing new offensive and defensive coordinators to shape his vision for the program.

For the offensive coordinator role, Healy selected Cam Aiken, who joined ETSU after spending two years as an analyst at Ole Miss. Aiken previously served as a running backs coach and run game coordinator at USF and worked for nine seasons under Dabo Swinney at Clemson.

Chad Staggs was named defensive coordinator, bringing a wealth of experience from his time as a senior defensive analyst at Western Kentucky and as a defensive coordinator at Georgia State, Coastal Carolina and Furman. Staggs’ deep understanding of defensive schemes is expected to strengthen ETSU's performance on that side of the ball.