Larry Slade turned in another one of his magical coaching performances in 2007, battling through several injuries in the secondary to post one of the SEC's top units down the stretch.

This year's edition might just be one of the nation's best right out of the gate.

Eric Berry returns for his second season after a Freshman All-America campaign that saw him notch five interceptions for a school-record 222 yards. Berry added 55 yards in fumble returns and led all SEC freshmen with 86 tackles. He likely will be joined at safety by Demetrice Morley, back after a one-year hiatus and coming off an impressive showing during spring drills.

The cornerbacks were thrown into the fire last year -- five would-be starters were missing by season's end for one reason or another -- but Slade says those trials should pay dividends in 2008. DeAngelo Willingham, Dennis Rogan, Antonio Gaines, Marsalous Johnson and Brent Vinson all will be vying for playing time.

Slade is in 10th season on the UT coaching staff and continues turning out some of the nation's best secondary units.

Over the course of the last four seasons, Tennessee's defensive backfield has produced such NFL signees as Super Bowl champion Gibril Wilson, Super Bowl participant Deon Grant, Rashad Baker, Jabari Greer, Jonathan Wade and Jason Allen, who was selected in the 2006 first round by the Miami Dolphins.

In addition to this group's significant on-field success, Slade says he is proudest of the fact that most of his former pupils have earned their college degrees.

Slade's 2000 and 2001 secondary units, aided and abetted by the rest of the defense, established school season records with 64 and 72 passes broken up, respectively. It continued a pattern of success that Slade has enjoyed in his 35 years in the coaching profession.

Slade, 57, is a native of Pelham, N.C., who twice was named All-West Virginia while playing guard at Shepherd in the early 1970s. He was named Little All-America honorable mention in 1971 and later inducted into the Shepherd College Hall of Fame.

He received his degree in biology with a minor in English.

Slade's coaching career began at his alma mater with a nine-year stay before subsequent stops at Richmond, Howard, Southern Illinois, Washington and Maryland.

His six-year tenure as secondary coach at Washington was highlighted by a national championship season in 1991, during which the Huskies ranked first in NCAA statistics for pass efficiency defense.

Slade left Washington in 1992 for Maryland to serve as defensive coordinator, a post he held for two seasons before moving to Texas A&M.

His 1997 Aggies secondary allowed only three passing touchdowns, fewest in the nation. Slade's first unit at Tennessee also sparkled by allowing 214.9 yards per game through the air and making 21 interceptions against only 15 touchdown passes.

Married to the former Izetta Willingham, Slade has three children, Herbie, Roshawn and Lyndsey.

EDUCATION
Pembroke High School, Hampton, Va., Shepherd College 1973

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Offensive Guard, Shepherd 1969-73

COACHING CAREER
Shepherd 1973-81, Richmond 1982, Howard 1983, Southern Illinois 1984-85, Washington 1986-91, Maryland 1992-93, Texas A&M 1994-98, Tennessee 1999-present

WIFE
Izetta Willingham Slade

CHILDREN
Herbie (Nov. 12, 1969), Roshawn (June 23, 1987), Lyndsey (June 2, 1990)

BOWL GAME COACHING HISTORY
1986 Sun, 1987 Independence, 1989 Freedom, 1991 Rose, 1992 Rose, 1995 Alamo, 1998 Cotton, 1999 Sugar, 2000 Fiesta, 2001 Cotton, 2002 Florida Citrus, 2002 Peach, 2004 Peach, 2005 Cotton, 2007 Outback, 2008 Outback.