Dwayne Ledford

Ledford recently spent two years at Louisville as the offensive coordinator/offensive line coach. In 2020, the Cardinals posted 2,686 passing yards and 2,200 rushing yards while averaging 29.5 points per game. In 2019, his offense was averaging 33.1 points per game and had a 1,500-yard rusher (Javian Hawkins) and 1,200-yard receiver (Tutu Atwell). The team had four offensive players named to All-ACC team; Atwell (first-team), OT Mekhi Becton (first-team), Hawkins (second-team) and AP Hassan Hall (second-team).

Before Louisville, Ledford spent three seasons as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at NC State, where he helped construct the Wolfpack's offensive lines into one of the best units in the ACC. Senior Garrett Bradbury was a consensus All-American earned Associated Press All-America honors and won the Rimington Trophy as the nation's top center. Bradbury and left tackle Tyler Jones both made the All-ACC team this season. It was the first time since 1974 the Pack had two from the offensive linemen on the first-team.

The Wolfpack had a 1,000-yard rusher in each season of Ledford's tenure. NC State went from 2002 to 2015 without a 1,000-yard rusher, which was the longest drought in the country. In three seasons directing the offensive line, the Wolfpack saw their sack total decrease, ranking among the top 20 in the country.

Ledford came to NC State after four seasons coaching the offensive line at Appalachian State, and three years as co-offensive coordinator for the run game. The Mountaineers set a Sun Belt single-season record with 11 wins in 2015, the team's first full year of FBS eligibility, and his offense ranked fourth in the FBS in sacks allowed in 2015 with just 0.85 per game, and paved the way for a 271.5 yard rushing average, ranking sixth nationally.

Before joining the Appalachian State staff in 2012, Ledford spent one season as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Gardner-Webb and one season as the offensive line coach at Tennessee State.

Ledford's first coaching job came while he was still playing in the NFL, as he served as a strength and conditioning coach at North Carolina Charlotte in 2005 and as an offensive line intern with the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe in the spring of 2006.

A seven-year NFL veteran, Ledford played for the San Francisco 49ers (1999-2000, 2003-04), Jacksonville Jaguars (2000), Carolina Panthers (2001), Cleveland Browns (2005) and New Orleans Saints (2006). He saw action in eight games, including one start, for the 49ers in 2003.

Following his playing career, he was named the Galaxy's tight ends and tackles coach in the spring of 2007 before returning to the U.S. to serve as the offensive line coach at Sanderson High in Raleigh that fall. He spent two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater, East Carolina (2008-09), working with the offensive line and guiding the Pirates to back-to-back Conference USA titles.

Ledford played defensive line at ECU from 1995-97, starting all 11 games as a junior and finishing with 26 career tackles. He moved to offensive line prior to his senior campaign and made nine starts at left tackle in 1998 and was named a 1998-99 National Strength and Conditioning All-American.

A native of Marion, N.C., Ledford and his wife, Meredith, have two sons, Hudson and Jordan.