Garin Justice was named Arizona’s offensive line coach in December of 2017 following a two-year stint helping turn around the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) program. Justice played collegiately and served as a graduate assistant at West Virginia under head coach Rich Rodriguez.
Justice comes to Tucson following two impressive seasons with the Owls, where he was initially hired for the 2016 season. When Lane Kiffin was named FAU’s head coach after in December of 2016, Justice was the only remaining staff member re-hired to Kiffin’s staff. In their first year together, the Owls set a program record with 11 wins and put together one of the most explosive offensive teams in the country.
In 2017, FAU was led by a veteran line under Justice’s tutelage. The Owls ended the regular season ranked in the top 10 nationally for scoring offense (39.8) and rushing offense (283.2), while ranking 13th for fewest sacks allowed (15). Three of Justice’s offensive lineman were named C-USA First Team All-Conference, including Reggie Bain, Antonyo Woods and Ramon Fernandez. The trio paved the way for running back Devin Singletary, who became the program’s first-ever Associated Press All-American football player and set the school rushing record (1,920 yards).
Justice did yeoman’s work with the offensive line in his first season at FAU. The Owls had a record-setting rushing attack despite losing four projected starters in the first three weeks of the 2016 season, which resulted in nine different starting line groups throughout the year. Still, center Dillon DeBoer was one of 11 student-athletes, conference wide, to earn C-USA Academic honors and was named C-USA Honorable Mention All-Conference. Woods, then a junior, saw time at three different spots on the line and also earned Honorable Mention C-USA honors.
Prior to his time at FAU, Justice was the head coach at Concord University (Athens, W. Va.), a program that had been winless (0-11) as recently as 2008, from 2011-15. In his five-year stint, the Mountain Lions were 40-17, which included a 13-1 season in 2014. Additionally, Justice led Concord to two conference championships and two NCAA Division II playoff appearances. On Justice’s watch, 84 players were named All-West Virginia Athletic Conference or All-Mountain East Conference selections while two athletes earned Defensive WVIAC Player of the Year accolades in addition 18 All-Region selections and eight All-American honorees were named.
His 2015 squad had 11 players earn Mountain East Conference honors and two received All-Region recognition. He coached the top offensive lineman in the MEC who led a unit that allowed the fewest sacks in the league and made way for the program’s running back to set the all-time rushing record. His defense finished the season No. 2 in total defense.
In 2014, the Mountain Lions won the most games in school history (13) while also making an appearance in the national semifinals. Under Justice's guidance, CU won its first playoff games in school history, defeating West Chester (51-36) and Bloomsburg (32-26) which gave Concord its first Super One Region Championship. Not only did Concord set school records in wins (13), but Justice also was named Mountain East Conference Coach of the Year. It was his second league coach of the year award in four seasons at Concord. Justice coached the offensive line at Concord and tutored two All-American linemen in Rustin Mayorga and Coleman Osborne. All five of Justice's linemen earned All-Conference during the 2014 season while paving the way for MEC Offensive Player of the Year Calvinaugh Jones.
The 2013 season was a showcase of what would come. Concord went 8-3 and narrowly lost out on winning the inaugural MEC title and earning a playoff bid. Concord tallied three-year highs under Justice on offense in points per game (26.6) and rushing yards per game (167.9). Just as impressive was Justice’s defense which posted three-year lows in points allowed per game (14.2), rushing yards allowed per game (108.4) and passing yards allowed per game (159.7). His Concord teams excelled in all phases of the game defensively as well, with a No. 3 national rank in four categories and two players earned All-American honors for their efforts. Special teams held a No. 6 national mark.
In 2012, Justice’s second season in Athens, Concord registered a 7-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in the WVIAC. In Justice’s first season as a head coach (2011), he led Concord to its first WVIAC title since 1990 as well as the school’s first appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs after CU finished 7-4 overall and 7-1 in WVIAC competition and he was named the 2011 WVIAC Coach of the Year.
Justice originally arrived at Concord in January of 2009 as the offensive line coach and strength & conditioning coordinator. Justice played a prominent role in Concord’s remarkable turnaround after its 0-11 season in 2008. In 2009, Justice’s first year on the CU staff, the Mountain Lions went 6-5. In 2010, Concord was 8-3, winning eight games for the first time in 19 years.
A native of Gilbert, W. Va., Justice’s coaching career began as an offensive graduate assistant on Rodriguez’s staff from May of 2006 through April of 2007. He then moved to Florida State, where he worked on Bobby Bowden’s staff from 2007-08 as an offensive graduate assistant, offensive videographer and weight room graduate assistant.
As a player, Justice was a three-year starting offensive tackle for West Virginia and served as team captain in 2005 for a Mountaineer squad that went 11-1, defeated Georgia in the Sugar Bowl and ranked No. 5 in the season-ending AP Poll. He earned All-Big East honors and was a Sporting News Second Team All-American for his efforts. Justice also was the Big East Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He graduated from West Virginia in 2006 with a Regents Bachelor of Arts degree.
Justice has a Regents Bachelor of Arts degree from West Virginia (2006) and a Masters of Sports Administration from Florida State (2008). He is married to Casie Coughlin Justice, and they have a daughter, Juliet.
Garin Justice’s Coaching Experience
2016-17 – Florida Atlantic University (Assistant Coach/OL)
2011-15 – Concord (Head Coach/OL Coach – 40-17 overall record)
2009-10 – Concord (Assistant Coach/OL and Strength and Conditioning)
2007-08 – Florida State University (Graduate Assistant)
2006-07 – West Virginia (Graduate Assistant)
Bowl/Postseason Games Coached
2017 – Boca Raton Bowl, FAU vs. Akron, W – 50-3
2008 - Champs Sports Bowl, FSU vs. Wisconsin, W - 42-13
2007 - Music City Bowl, FSU vs. Kentucky, L - 35-28
2006 - Gator Bowl, WVU vs. Georgia Tech, W - 38-35
Bowl Games Played
2006 -Sugar Bowl, Georgia, W - 38-35
2005 - Gator Bowl, Florida State, L - 30-18
2004 -Gator Bowl, Maryland, L - 41-7
2002 -Continental Tire Bowl, Virginia, L - 48-22
Justice's Head Coaching Record
Year School Record Win Pct.
2011 Concord 7-4 .636
2012 Concord 7-4 .636
2013 Concord 8-3 .727
2014 Concord 13-1 .928
2015 Concord 5-5 .500
Total 5 seasons 40-17 .701
