Football Southern Conference

Oxendine Joins Georgia Southern Football Staff


STATESBORO, Ga. -- Former Virginia Tech great and Atlanta Falcons running back Ken Oxendine has been named wide receivers coach at Georgia Southern University according to an announcement from head football coach Mike Sewak Monday.

Oxendine replaces Greg Hill, who has taken an offensive coordinator's position at Riverdale (Ga.) High School after serving two years on the Eagle staff.

Oxendine's transition to the coaching ranks has been a smooth one. Prior to serving as the running backs coach for Duluth (Ga.) High School during the 2003 season, he spent two years as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at his alma mater while working on his master's degree.

While in Blacksburg, Oxendine helped manage all aspects of the Virginia Tech strength program and its weight room operations. In addition to working primarily with the Hokies' men's basketball, volleyball and golf squads, he served as the primary speed trainer for Tech's football efforts. He also assisted with the development of flexibility and strength training for Frank Beamer's team.

After completing a four-year professional football career, which included a three-year tenure with the Falcons from 1998 to 2000, Oxendine was re-united with a Hokie program which he led to four consecutive bowl game appearances as a two-time All-Big East Conference performer.

Selected by the Falcons in the seventh round of the 1998 National Football League Draft, Oxendine quickly ascended up the offensive unit's depth chart to earn a starting position during his second season in 1999 after playing in eight games during Atlanta's run to the Super Bowl a year earlier. He rushed for 452 yards on 141 carries in 1999, which included a career-best 85-yard effort against the New Orleans Saints.

Oxendine signed with the Los Angeles Xtreme of the XFL in 2000 and earned another starting position at running back for the league champions before eventually retiring a year later after suffering a severe ankle injury.

During his four-year collegiate career at Virginia Tech, Oxendine ran for over 3,00 yards, ranking fifth on the school's all-time rushing list. He logged 12 overall 100-yard rushing games and recorded a personal-best 237 carries in 1997, the most by a Hokie back since 1981. Oxendine played a key role in guiding the Hokies to a pair of appearances in the Gator Bowl and other trips to the Sugar and Orange Bowls.

As a prep standout at Thomas Dale High School, Oxendine was chosen as the Virginia High School, USA Today and Associated Press Player-of-the-Year as a senior. He rushed for over 3,500 yards and scored 34 touchdowns during his career which earned him inclusion on the All-Southern, Dixie Dozen and Gatorade Circle of Champions squads. In addition, he was listed as one of the top 10 recruits in the nation in 1994.

Oxendine earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from Virginia Tech in 1998 before following with a master's degree in 2003.