Terry (Coach) Price

Terrence Todd Price, better known as Terry, TP or Coach Price, was born April 5, 1968, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Dr. Willena K. Price and the late Otis Price. At an early age, Terry accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and throughout his life has been a terrific role model as a husband, father, son, brother, and coach. He married Kenya Hodges on July 1, 2000, in Oxford, Mississippi. The couple raised two outstanding young men, Alex and Devin, both Texas A&M Class of ’23 graduates. Devin was a three-year letterman in football at Texas A&M and will play for Florida Atlantic University in 2023. Surrounded by his family, Terry passed away June 23, 2023.

Terry played high school football for the powerhouse Plano Wildcats and the legendary coach Tom Kimbrough and helped the school win district titles as a junior and senior. TP would earn second-team All-State honors and was named to the Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star team. Price was also a standout in track and field winning the state Class 5A shotput title in 1986 with a throw over 63 feet.

Recruited by Texas A&M Hall of Fame coaches Jackie Sherrill and R.C. Slocum, Price became a four-year Aggie letterman (1986-89) and helped the Aggies win the Southwest Conference Championship in 1986 and 1987. Price helped the Wrecking Crew rank No. 1 or No. 2 in total defense and rushing defense all four seasons in the Southwest Conference. TP was so impressive he played immediately on the defensive line as a true freshman recording 12 tackles and recovering a fumble in 1986. As a sophomore, Price recorded 53 stops and pressured the quarterback into four incompletions and a high game of 10 tackles against TCU in 1987. As a junior he was the leading tackler on the defensive line and fourth-leading tackler on the team with 65 tackles and forced a fumble, had four quarterback pressures, one quarterback sack and two tackles for losses. He had a high game of 11 tackles against Alabama in 1988. His senior campaign in 1989, Price was named All-SWC and earned honorable mention All-America honors by The Sporting News. He recorded 57 total tackles to lead the defensive line, with one fumble recovery and one fumble caused. He had 14 quarterback pressures and 3.5 quarterback sacks and a total of six tackles for losses as well as knocking down two passes. He tied his career high with 11 tackles against Baylor in 1989. During Coach Price’s playing career, the Aggies only lost three games on Kyle Field.

Price was drafted in the 10th round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He played two seasons in the NFL for the Bears and the Miami Dolphins before returning to finish his degree and begin his coaching career on Coach R.C. Slocum’s staff in 1992 and 1993 helping the team win the Southwest Conference Championship each season.

Coach Price moved to Western Kentucky where he coached defensive line and was the strength coach in 1994. In 1995, he began his SEC coaching career as an assistant at Ole Miss (1995-98) before moving to Auburn (1999-2008) and then back to Ole Miss (2009-11). After the 2011 season, he accepted a position at Texas Tech before he was hired back at Texas A&M under head coach Kevin Sumlin in 2012. Coach Price has remained on the Aggie defensive coaching staff since that time serving under Sumlin for six seasons and head coach Jimbo Fisher since 2018. His SEC coaching career spanned 28 seasons (1995-2022), one of the longest tenures in SEC history.

During his coaching career, Coach Price was singled out for his recruiting prowess and his ability to help develop young men into outstanding NFL prospects as well as developing high caliber, high character men. NFL players such as the first overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft, current Cleveland Browns all-star Myles Garrett, as well as Damontre Moore, Daeshon Hall, Daylon Mack, Kingsley Keke, Justin Madubuike, Bobby Brown, DeMarvin Leal and Michael Clemons.

This mountain of a man had a huge heart and a warm smile and leaves behind a tremendous legacy, both on and off the gridiron. Away from the field, Price loved spending time with his family, friends and players. He was an exceptional grill master earning many citations for his outstanding grill work. In the late 1990’s, Price got together with a few other staff members and formed a barbecue team aptly named “The Pigskins”. This group went to Memphis to compete in the May International Festival’s World Barbecue Cooking Contest. The Pigskins took home first place in the sauce competition and earned a Top 10 finish in ribs and Price was hooked on barbecuing. His “d-line” cookouts were legendary. He also loved fishing.

“Terry was not only a great Aggie, football coach and recruiter, he was an even better husband, father and man,” current Aggie head coach Jimbo Fisher said. “The impact he had on this program and his players is immeasurable. Our football family has suffered an incredible loss. We will continue to hold Kenya and the boys in our thoughts and prayers.”​

Coach Price was preceded in death by his father, Otis Price. and he leaves behind a loving wife, Kenya, and their sons, Alex and Devin; his mom, Dr. Willena K. Price, as well as a sister, Dr. Audra Price Pittman, brother-in-law Sean Pittman, Esq., nieces Paloma,Pilar, and Phoebe, mother-in-law Deborah M. Hodges and brother-in-law Tyrus L. Hodges, aunts Mary Rocker, Muriel Kimpson, LaVera Hodges, Tonya Woods, Meta Anderson, Barbara Martin, Laura Brown, Curtis Marie McGee, Annie McGee, Cora Jenkins, Dora Clark, JoAnn McGee and uncles Waymon Kimpson, Robert Williams,Richard McGee, as well as a host of cousins and special friends from Plano High School and across college football.

Terry was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.