Byron Jerideau joins strength staff at Appalachian State

Former South Carolina defensive tackle Byron Jerideau is taking on a new role in the collegiate weight room.

Jerideau will be the assistant director of strength and conditioning at Appalachian State, it was announced Monday night.

“It’s a great opportunity doing what I love,” he said.

He will work at Appalachian State with head strength-and-conditioning coach Mike Sirignano, who was at USC in an assistant role from 2012 to 2014.

The two were together at USC for Jerideau’s senior season in 2012, when the defensive tackle from Green Pond, SC, started all 13 games and recorded 40 tackles, including 5.5 for loss.

Jerideau, who was 6-foot-1 and 316 pounds while at USC in 2012, was known for his size and strength. He received the Outstanding Weight Room award in his final spring, with strength numbers that included a 670-pound squat and a 500-pound bench press. He graduated from USC with a degree in criminal justice.

Jerideau spent time in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers and was most recently completing an internship with the University of Houston.

He starts his new role at the Boone, NC, school this week. He will help with football and two other to-be-determined sports, he said.

“I would like to officially welcome Coach Byron 2 the #AppFamily,” Sirignano tweeted Monday night. “So excited to add him to my staff.”

This story was originally published May 25, 2015 at 10:08 PM with the headline "Byron Jerideau joins strength staff at Appalachian State."