Assuming the reins of one of NCAA FCS' most explosive offenses in 2010, Rob Spence begins his first season at Bethune-Cookman as the Offensive Coordinator. Spence brings a great wealth of experience to the staff, coaching in conferences ranging from mid-majors, at the Mid-American Conference, up to the BCS level, in the Big East and Atlantic Coast Conference.

The 22-year collegiate coaching veteran comes to Bethune-Cookman, most recently from Temple, where he served as wide receivers coach. He has been an offensive coordinator for 15 seasons, including four of his last five posts, at five different schools, including Syracuse, Clemson, Toledo, Louisiana Tech, and Hofstra.

A native of Pelham, N.Y., Spence spent the 2009 season at Syracuse as the offensive coordinator.

At Clemson, Spence led an offense that ranked among the all-time best at the school. His units enjoyed two of the top four most-productive offensive seasons in school history. In each of his three seasons his quarterbacks had pass efficiency ratings in the top five on the school record list. The touchdown totals in two of his seasons rank among the top three in school history.

Spence directed an offense for the Tigers which was the most-balanced in the ACC during his three full seasons. That balance was one of the reasons why Clemson had two top-25 seasons, went to three bowl games, and won 25 games; the most victories in a three-year period since 1989-91. From 2005 through 2008, Clemson was the only ACC team to finish in the top four in the league in rushing, passing, and total offense. Spence accomplished that feat with three different starting quarterbacks in Charlie Whitehurst (2005), Will Proctor (2006), and Cullen Harper (2007).

Prior to his tenure at Clemson, Spence coached at Toledo from 2001-04, where the Rockets won 35 games and finished in the top 13 nationally in total offense and top-25 in scoring offense for four straight seasons. Twice in his four years, the Rockets were in the top 20 nationally in rushing, and twice the team was in the top 20 in passing. Spence guided an offense that averaged 474.1 yards and 35.2 points per game in the 2004 regular season that included a 9-3 overall record and MAC Championship. It was the third time in four years that Toledo played in the league championship game.

While coaching with the Rockets, Spence worked with Bruce Gradkowski, Toledo's school and conference record-setting quarterback, who is currently slated to play for the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals in 2011.

Spence began his collegiate coaching career in 1989 as the offensive coordinator at Iona College, his alma mater. The team posted an 8-2 record that season.

Spence started coaching as an assistant at Pelham (N.Y.) Memorial High School in 1981 before moving to Iona Prep School in 1982. He was the varsity offensive coordinator in 1982 and head junior varsity coach in 1983. Spence then became the head coach at Iona Prep in 1984, a position he held for five seasons until he started his college coaching career at Iona. His five-year head coaching record was 29-19-1 at Iona Prep.

Spence played football at Saint Andrews School in Middletown, Del. (1972-75). He went on to play tight end at Iona from 1978-81. He earned his bachelor's degree in Social Work from Iona in 1981 and later earned his master's degree in Education from Iona in 1990.

An avid runner who ran in the Boston Marathon in April of 2004, Spence was born on October 10, 1958. He and his wife, Susan, have two daughters, Samantha and Sydney Rae.