Vanderbilt played at Tennessee on Nov. 19, 2011. Photos by Joe Howell/Vanderbilt University.
Herb Hand returns for a second year on the Commodore coaching staff as offensive line coach. Hand is the only coach from the 2010 Vanderbilt staff that continues to serve on the staff of first-year Commodore Head Coach James Franklin.
In 2010, Hand's offensive front at Vanderbilt lacked quantity and experience. Playing with less than 10 linemen for much of the season, Hand kept the unit together, getting the youthful corps to put together its best overall performances as the season came to a close. One of Hand's top 2010 prospects, left tackle Wesley Johnson, earned Freshman All-SEC honors from head coaches and Freshman All-America recognition from Phil Steele's College Football magazine.
Hand, a native of New York, had extensive coaching experience in spread offenses at both Tulsa and West Virginia prior to accepting the Vanderbilt post.
Hand worked three years at Tulsa, serving as an assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Hand helped guide Tulsa to consecutive GMAC Bowl appearances behind one of the NCAA's most explosive spread offenses.
As Tulsa's co-offensive coordinator, Hand coached a Hurricane offensive line that paved the way for the nation's No. 1-ranked offense in 2007 and 2008. The Hurricane averaged 570 yards of total offense in 2008, and 544 yards per game in 2007. They also topped the nation with a 47-point scoring average in 2008. Tulsa's 2008 offense ranked first among Conference USA schools for rushing, scoring and total offense. Hand was a finalist for national offensive line coach of the year in 2008.
Before joining Tulsa, Hand spent an extremely successful six-year tenure at West Virginia, serving as the Mountaineers' tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator. He helped West Virginia to three Big East Conference championships and five straight postseason bowl games during the span, including a 36-35 victory over Southeastern Conference champion Georgia in the 2006 Sugar Bowl.
In 2006, West Virginia finished with an 11-2 record and was among the nation's top-10 teams for most of the season. He helped lead an offense that ranked second nationally in rushing, third in scoring, and fourth in total offense. A year earlier, WVU posted an 11-1 record and was ranked fifth nationally.
Prior to moving to West Virginia, Hand served as an offensive graduate assistant at Clemson in 1999-2000, as the Tigers participated in the 1999 Peach Bowl and 2000 Gator Bowl. Before that, he was defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator at Concord College for two seasons (1997-98). From 1994-96, Hand served as defensive coordinator at Glenville State, where he helped coach the squad to three WVIAC Championships. Previously, Hand was a graduate assistant coach for three seasons (1991-93) at West Virginia Wesleyan where he coached the linebackers.
A 1990 Hamilton College graduate, Hand received his bachelor's degree in history, and a master's degree in 1993 from West Virginia Wesleyan in business administration.
Hand and his wife, Debbie, have three children: sons, Trey and Cade, and daughter Bailey.
