Coach Curtis Terry brings a wealth of experience and success to Bluefield State University, where he serves as the Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach. Terry's coaching journey began at CSU in he summer of  2018 as the Linebacker Coach and Passing Game Coordinator, where he nurtured linebacker Kailen Abrams to win multiple defensive national player of the week honors and earn All-American status. With the arrival of Coach Bobby Rome, Terry was elevated to Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Line Coach, and Special Teams Coordinator.
During his tenure, Terry transformed the defensive line, securing commitments from a couple of the top defensive linemen in the transfer portal and turning a struggling unit into one of the most formidable fronts in the SIAC. His leadership saw defensive end Jamal Holloway win Newcomer of the Year and lead the conference in sacks, tackles for loss, and forced fumbles.
Terry's next challenge led him to Florida Memorial University, where he continued to excel, nearly breaking the NAIA single-game sack record and setting school records for sacks and tackles for loss in a season. His players earned numerous player of the week honors, and Terry developed another all-conference player.
In pursuit of further growth, Coach Terry transitioned to the Division 1 level at Eastern Michigan University alongside his mentor Taver Johnson and Cornerbacks Coach Munir Prince. There, he contributed significantly to the development of cornerback Daiquan White, who earned Freshman All-American honors.
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Terry was a standout athlete at Glenville High School, excelling in football, track, and basketball. He continued his football career at Ohio State University under Coach Jim Tressel, playing primarily at linebacker and contributing to four Big Ten championships and a BCS National Championship appearance in 2007. Terry was also apart of the first class in Ohio State history to go 5-0 against the University of Michigan.
Post-college, Terry pursued professional football, signing with the Cincinnati Bengals and competing in indoor leagues like the AIFL and IFL. He later returned to Glenville High School as a coach, guiding multiple linebackers to NCAA Div. I scholarships.
Off the field, Terry is committed to community health, having founded 5550 Fitness in Cleveland. He holds a degree in African American Studies from Ohio State University (2018) and is a proud father of two sons, including Khalil, the #1 ranked 2027 safety in California, and Curtis Jr.
