Cedric Pearl enters his sixth season with the Bulldogs, and was promoted over the summer to offensive coordinator to go along with his offensive line coaching duties. He replaces Stanley Conner as coordinator, who left A&M for the head coaching position at Bennett (N.C.).

Pearl served under Jones as the offensive line coach at Morehouse. Although he was there only one season, he made an immediate impact with the Tigers. He took a team that had no all-conference performers in 2000 and groomed two all-SIAC offensive linemen in 2001.

Each season since his arrival on "The Hill," Pearl also produced a first-team all-SWAC lineman, plus Christopher Franklin named All-America in 2006. In each of his first four seasons, A&M has ranked among the conference leaders in fewest sacks allowed and rushing yards gained. The offensive line is also consistenly one of the least penalized units in the SWAC.

In 2006 offensive lineman Kristian Smith not only earned all-SWAC honors on the field, but was named a national finalist for the Draddy Award, given to the nation's top football scholar-athlete. Smith was one of 17 finalists in all divisions of college football, among three from NCAA-IAA and the only member of the honorees from an HBCU.

Pearl played collegiately at Tuskegee as an offensive lineman. While at Tuskegee, Pearl was a three-time all-conference selection with an honorable mention in 1989, second team in 1990 and first team in 1991.

Pearl's coaching career began as a graduate assistant for the Golden Tigers in 1993, then joined the staff full time in 1994 as the offensive line coach. After three seasons with the Tigers, Pearl joined the staff at Morris Brown as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. In 1996, Pearl helped the Wolverine defense lead the conference in scoring defense. He spent five seasons with the Wolverines before Jones hired him at Morehouse in 2001.

A member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Pearl served as an offensive intern under NFL head coaches Herman Edwards and Dennis Green during the summers of 2005 and 2006, respectively. He also completed a coaching internship with the Oakland Raiders prior to the 2006 season.

Pearl is married and resides in Madison with his wife, Danita, and step-daughter, Shanice.