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FIRST YEAR
Jess Loepp returns to The University of Tulsa to coach the Hurricane safeties and also serves as Tulsa's recruiting coordinator.
Last year, Loepp was an assistant coach at Rice University, where he coached the Owls safeties and served as recruiting coordinator. He followed Graham to Rice after three seasons at Tulsa as a defensive graduate assistant coach.
At Rice, he helped coach a team that made a bowl game appearance for the first time in 45 years.
While at Tulsa, Loepp aided a Golden Hurricane defense that ranked among the nation's top-40 in takeaways, interceptions, pass defense efficiency, pass defense and total defense. He was also a part of Tulsa's Conference USA Championship team in 2005 as well as two bowl game appearances, including the 2003 Humanitarian Bowl and 2005 AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
Before coming to Tulsa for his first stint with the Hurricane, Loepp held his first coaching position at the Oklahoma Bible Academy in Enid as a volunteer assistant coach. He coached the linebackers and receivers.
Loepp, 29, attended the University of Central Oklahoma and was an all-Lone Star Conference performer at linebacker. He helped UCO win league titles in 1998 and '99. Loepp earned his bachelor's degree at UCO in 2000 and completed his graduate work at Tulsa in 2005.
Alma Mater: Central Oklahoma `2000
Birthdate: November 18, 1977
Hometown: Turpin, Okla.
College Coaching Experience: 4 years (2003-06). Entering first year as full-time assistant coach at Tulsa (second stint at Tulsa).
Playing Experience: Played linebacker at Central Oklahoma (1996-00) and was an all-conference selection once and academic all-conference pick for two years.
Recruiting Areas: Central Texas and West Texas
Bowl Games as a Coach 2003 Humanitarian Bowl; graduate assistant coach (Tulsa) 2005 AutoZone Liberty Bowl; graduate assistant coach (Tulsa) 2006 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (Rice)
