Former Siegel star running back Gerald Howse, now an assistant at Tennessee Tech, dies

Former Siegel High School running back Gerald Howse, who recently became an assistant coach at Tennessee Tech, has died. He was 28.

Howse joined the Tech staff in January as a running backs coach and assistant special teams coordinator. He started his first spring with the Golden Eagles in March before practices were suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Gerald was a first-class young man,” Tech coach Dewayne Alexander said. “He was highly thought of by so many people. His coaches at Siegel High School — Greg Wyant and David Watson — always brought him up whenever we had positions come open. He displayed a very positive attitude. He was a man of character who lived out faith, family and football."

Howse came to Tech after serving as running backs coach at Northwestern State. Prior to that, he spent one season at Oklahoma Baptist and one at Northeast Oklahoma A&M College.

"He was so close to his family — his mom, dad and sister — that it was one of the biggest reasons he came here to Tennessee Tech," Alexander said. "To coach in the area, be back in Middle Tennessee and be close to his family. He was an outstanding coach and a man every coach would want on his staff. Gerald made a huge impact on our players in the short time he was here. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends, as well as the Tennessee Tech football family. Anytime you lose a staff member, it affects a lot of people.”

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Tech athletics director Mark Wilson said: “Our hearts and prayers are with Gerald’s family and friends. He was a dynamic, young assistant coach who quickly became a Golden Eagle and embodied all you want as a leader of young men. We will miss him deeply.”

Howse rushed for 1,072 yards and nine touchdowns in his senior season at Siegel.

He was recruited by several schools including Duke, Middle Tennessee State and Western Kentucky.

Howse signed with Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, a junior college, where he was a first-team all-conference selection. He moved on to play his final two seasons at Georgia State.

Arrangements have not yet been announced.

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.