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Joe Whitt, Jr., begins his first season with the Falcons after serving the past four years as the Cornerbacks Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Louisville. He will work alongside NFL veteran coach Emmitt Thomas to tutor the defensive backs.
During his time with the Cardinals, Whitt transformed the Cardinals recruiting efforts, bringing the program onto the national scene. On the field, Whitt coached CB William Gay, who recorded a team-high six interceptions in 2006 and was selected to the All-Big East first team. Gay was just selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 2007 draft.
Whitt has also helped other players reach the next level such as S Kerry Rhodes, a fourth-round draft pick by the New York Jets in 2005, who has emerged as a starter the last two seasons, as well as CB Antoine Harris, who was signed as a free agent by the Falcons in 2007.
In 2005, Whitt helped the Cardinals garner attention for landing their first top 25 recruiting class. After joining the Cardinals staff in 2003, Whitt worked tirelessly to improve the Cardinals recruiting efforts, and that hard work paid off, as the Cardinals enjoyed
three of their finest recruiting classes under Whitt's guidance. With Whitt's contacts and work ethic, the team reached out to new areas and added more depth to the Cardinals over four consecutive seasons.
On the field, Whitt coached the school's cornerbacks and helped that group improve in 2004. After recording 13 interceptions in 2003, the Cardinals picked off 17 passes a year later, the most since 2001. Whitt molded Gay into becoming one of the finest corners in the Big East Conference. In 2004, Whitt saw senior Antoine Harris lead Conference USA and finish sixth in the nation in passes defensed. Harris would go on to sign a free-agent contract with the Tennessee Titans.
Joe Jr., followed his father, Joe Sr., into the collegiate coaching ranks at the University of Auburn, following his playing career with the Tigers. A member of the Auburn coaching staff since 1981, the elder Whitt had the opportunity to work alongside Falcons head coach Bobby Petrino during the 2002 season.
Whitt had an immediate impact in his first season in the collegiate coaching ranks working with the receivers at The Citadel for one season. In his only season at the school, the Bulldogs saw their offensive production jump from 17.2 points per game in 2001 to 25.4 points during the 2002 season. Whitt's work with the receivers reflected a strong passing attack that averaged 219.8 yards per game, a notable increase from the 81.3 yard average posted in 2001. Under the tutelage of Whitt, Scooter Johnson, who pulled down just six catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns as a junior, hauled in 69 catches for 950 yards and seven scores to earn first team All-Southern Conference honors during his senior campaign. All of his receivers produced career highs in 2002.
After prepping at Auburn High School, Whitt walked-on at Auburn, where he eventually earned a scholarship and worked his way into the rotation at wide receiver, as well as contributing on special teams. After three shoulder surgeries and reconstructive knee surgery, Whitt was granted a medical hardship waiver and became a student assistant at Auburn for two seasons.
A native of Auburn, Alabama, the 28-year-old Whitt graduated from Auburn in 2001 with a degree in communications. Born July 19, 1978, Whitt and his wife, Ericka, have one son, Joe, Jr. | 