Philip Montgomery Appoints Former NFL Player To TU's Coaching Staff

University of Tulsa Head Football Coach Philip Montgomery appointed four-year NFL veteran and a three-year member of the Baylor football staff Calvin Lowry to an assistant coaching position, it was announced today. Lowry will coach the Golden Hurricane receivers and be involved with coaching special teams.

Lowry, a former All-Big Ten safety, spent three years at Baylor University, including two as an assistant director of operations and one as a graduate assistant coach, spending time working with Baylor's offense and special teams.

Before that, Lowry spent one season at St. Andrew's Episcopal High School in Austin, Texas, where he coached wide receivers, secondary and special teams in 2011.

“Calvin is a young coach with a ton of knowledge, who is continuing to grow. He will be able to provide knowledge from his experiences in the NFL, and will bring the energy level and intensity that we need on the football field. He'll do a great job of recruiting for us,” said Montgomery. “Calvin is an outstanding person and a great addition to our university and coaching staff.”

Lowry spent three full seasons in the NFL, where he played special teams and safety for the Tennessee Titans (2006 and 2007), Denver Broncos (2008) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2008), and also spent the 2009 training camp with the Detroit Lions. He was a fourth-round draft pick of the Titans in 2006. Lowry played in 43 games and totaled 86 tackles, 13 pass deflections and started 14 games in his NFL career. His best season statistically came in the 2007 campaign when he collected 57 tackles, including 42 solos, and had two interceptions for Tennessee.

A four-year letterman and starter at Penn State, Lowry was named a 2005 first-team All-Big Ten safety as a senior after making 79 tackles and four interceptions. He totaled nine career interceptions and was PSU's leading punt returner for three seasons. Lowry became the first true freshman to start for legendary head coach Joe Paterno during the 2002 season.

“It's a blessing to be afforded the opportunity at The University of Tulsa with Coach Montgomery and to coach with people I know and be in an offense that I'm very familiar with,” said Lowry. “I'm looking forward to bringing my work ethic and passion for the game to help Tulsa get back to winning football.”

Lowry's defensive playing background provides a unique perspective as receivers coach for the Hurricane.

“I think an advantage for me is that I have a defensive background,” said Lowry. “Being that I played defense in high school, through college and on the professional level, I know what defenses don't want to see, what they don't like to defend – the advantages an offense can have against a defense. It's almost like playing chess – you can make certain moves, you can put people in certain situations and you can exploit a defense and make plays.”

“I hope that my experience playing in the NFL, will help show our student-athletes what it takes – the dedication, the passion, the commitment level and sacrifices needed – to make it to that next level, the day-in and day-out grind of trying to make an NFL roster.

Lowry was a four-year standout at Douglas Byrd High School in Fayetteville, N.C., as a wide receiver and defensive back. A native of Fort Hood, Texas, Lowry called Fayetteville home from age 3 through college.

Lowry, 31 (2-13-83), received his bachelor's degree in Crime, Law and Justice from Penn State University in 2007.