Josh Aldridge

Biography

Josh Aldridge was Brian Hartline's first addition to his first South Florida staff in December of 2025 as defensive coordinator. Aldridge came to South Florida after one season at East Carolina in which he led the Pirates defense to finishing atop the American Conference in seven categories. A William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist during his playing days at Harding University, Aldridge arrived at ECU after serving as linebackers coach at Auburn for two seasons (2023 & 2024). During the 2025 season with Aldridge serving as defensive coordinator, ECU led the American Conference in seven categories, including total defense (348.8 ypg), scoring defense (20.3 ppg), rushing defense (120.3 ypg), red zone defense (.714), third down defense (.302), sacks (2.50 sgp) and tackles for loss (7.8 tpg). Aldridge also spent four seasons as a defensive coach at Liberty (2019-22), including serving as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2022. His 2022 Liberty defense ranked first nationally in tackles for loss (9.3 tpg), third in sacks (3.46), and was a 2021 Broyles Award nominee as one of the nation's top assistant coaches. A native of Jackson, Tennessee, Aldridge graduated from Harding University in 2012 with a degree in social sciences, where he was a four-year letterwinner and a two-time All-Great American Conference honoree.