Marshall University’s football team added former Youngstown State University’s Pepe Pearson to fill the program’s void at running backs coach Wednesday, head coach Doc Holliday announced.

Pearson joins Marshall after one season with the Youngstown State football program as its running backs coach.

In 2015, Youngstown State had more than 2,000 yards rushing for the sixth consecutive season.

“We are thrilled with the addition of Pepe to our program,” Holliday said. “He brings with him a wealth of experience. He has played the game at the highest level and will fit in well with the rest of our staff.”

Before spending last year with Youngstown State, Pearson spent 10 seasons at Ohio Dominican University.

Pearson, who played running back for Ohio State University from 1994-97, managed the special teams units in addition to coaching the running backs during his last four years at Ohio Dominican.

In 2014, Pearson helped the Panthers advance to the third round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. ODU finished the campaign with an 11-2 record. The 11 wins represented the most for the team since joining Division II in 2010 and the most by a Panthers team since 2007.

At Ohio State, Pearson helped lead the Buckeyes to four straight bowl appearances from 1994-97, including a 1997 Rose Bowl victory. A four-year letter winner for OSU, Pearson gained 1,484 yards and 17 touchdowns on 299 carries his junior year and was selected All-Big Ten and team Most Valuable Player.

He finished his career as the Buckeyes’ fifth all-time leading rusher with 3,121 yards while playing under former head coach John Cooper.

After completing his college career, Pearson played for the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL. He also played in NFL Europe, where he won the 2000 World Bowl Championship with the Rhein Fire, scoring the game-winning touchdown.