Josh Linam - Football Coach - James Madison University Athletics

Josh Linam

Title:
Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Phone:
540-568-6517

Josh Linam is in his first season with the James Madison football program in 2026, as he serves as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

Linam joins the Dukes after spending the past three seasons at Liberty (2023-25), where he served as linebackers coach. Linam has a dozen seasons of coaching experience, including seven at the FBS level.

Over his three seasons in Lynchburg, he helped Liberty to a 25-13 overall record, highlighted by the program’s historic 2023 season, in which the Flames finished 13-1, won the Conference USA Championship and played in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl against Oregon. Liberty entered bowl season with a perfect 13-0 record and was one of four undefeated teams in the country ahead of the postseason.

Liberty’s 2023 defense led the country with 21 interceptions and was ninth nationally in total takeaways, with 25. The Flames were also 24th in the country in rushing defense with a CUSA-leading 116.7 yards allowed per game. Linam coached Tyren Dupree to Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and later signed with the New York Jets.

In 2024, Liberty finished 8-4 and was a win away from having a repeat appearance in the conference championship game. The Flames reached the Bahamas Bowl while ranking 19th nationally in first downs defense (226) and 22nd in red zone defense (76.1%). He mentored Joseph Carter to Second Team All-CUSA status.

During his final season at LU in 2025, he coached Derrell Farrer to Honorable Mention All-CUSA laurels.

Prior to his hire at Liberty, Linam had spent part of the 2023 spring with Auburn, where he was a defensive analyst from January to March.

Linam spent the 2022 campaign as defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Catawba College. He helped Zy Brown, a freshman defensive back, to SAC Piedmont Division Second Team honors.

In 2021, Linam was senior defensive analyst at Georgia Tech, a season that saw the Yellow Jackets upend #20 North Carolina, 45-22, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for its first ranked win since 2017.

Linam also had coaching stops at Jacksonville State (linebackers), Monash Warrior Gridiron Club in Australia (head coach/defensive coordinator), Temple (defensive quality control/recruiting), Florida (defensive graduate assistant), UCF (offensive graduate assistant) and Huntingdon College (linebackers).

While at Jax State, the Gamecocks went 10-3 in 2020 and advanced to the FCS quarterfinals after winning the Ohio Valley Conference championship. Three JSU linebackers were named All-OVC in 2020 in First Teamer Jaylen Swain and Second Team members Marshall Clark and Markail Benton.

Following the 2020 season, Linam was selected by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) to its 2021 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute.

In 2019, Zach Woodard was a Second Team All-OVC selection as the team went 6-6 overall.

The 2017 and 2018 seasons saw Linam as a defensive analyst at Temple while he also assisted in recruiting. The Owls went 8-5 in 2018 with a berth in the Independence Bowl and a 7-6 mark in 2017 and victory in the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl over FIU.

That 2017 team led the American Athletic Conference in interceptions, was second in passing defense and third in total defense, while having an FBS-best five players with 10 or more tackles for a loss.

Linam spent the 2016 season as a defensive graduate assistant at Florida where the Gators posted a 9-4 record and a 6-2 mark in the SEC. Florida finished the 2016 campaign with a 30-3 win over Iowa in the Outback Bowl.

Prior to Florida, Linam spent the 2015 season as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, UCF, and served as linebackers coach at Division III Huntington College in 2014. Linam coached Zach Brownell to USA South Conference Defensive Player of the Year and Honorable Mention Division III All-America status while at HC.

Linam was a four-year member of the UCF football program (2008-11) where he was a two-year starter for the Knights. He registered 165 tackles, 3.0 sacks, six pass breakups and three interceptions. He was a two-time Conference USA All-Academic and CoSIDA Academic All-District selection, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in sports and fitness.

Following his playing career, Linam signed with the San Diego Chargers as a free agent and also spent time in summer 2012 with the Miami Dolphins.

A native of Taveres, Fla., Linam also earned a master’s degree from Florida in sports management in 2018.

Linam and his wife Tori have two children, Navy and Oakley.

Wenger Coaching File
2026: James Madison (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2023-25: Liberty (Linebackers)
2023: Auburn (Defensive Analyst)
2022: Catawba (Defensive Coordinator/Safeties)
2021: Georgia Tech (Senior Defensive Analyst)
2019-20: Jacksonville State (Linebackers)
2018: Monash Warrior Gridiron Club in Australia (Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator)
2017: Temple (Defensive Quality Control/Recruiting
2016: Florida (Defensive Graduate Assistant)
2015: UCF (Offensive Graduate Assistant)
2014: Huntingdon College (Linebackers)