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While in Raleigh, he was responsible for defensive backs and outside linebackers before becoming co-defensive coordinator from 1996-99. He was out of coaching in 2000.
N.C. State went to seven bowls in his 11 seasons with the Wolfpack. Six of State's top 10 single season total defense marks were posted while Briggs was there.
"Kent has all the qualities I was looking for in our next head coach," Athletic Director Jeff Compher said. "He is a man of integrity, a proven coach and someone who cares deeply about the student-athlete experience. Obviously, the fact he has such strong ties to Western as a student-athlete and coach is a great plus for our university. He understands Western Carolina and will instill a sense of tradition in our program."
Compher was an assistant athletic director at State while Briggs was an assistant there.
Briggs, who was chosen from a field of 45 candidates, agreed to a four-year contract worth $100,000 annually, Compher said.
Briggs told a crowd Friday that his journey to becoming the Cats' coach had taken 12 years, eight months and 20 days. That's how long it had been since Waters was removed as WCU's coach in March 1989, two months before he died of Lou Gehrig's Disease. He recalled sitting in his Jeep with his future wife at that time.
"I has just realized Coach Waters was no longer going to be the head coach at Western Carolina," he said. "I knew I was not going to be able to be retained on the staff. Nobody but Lisa knows I cried that day. I never wanted to coach anyplace else. I never wanted to work for anyone except Coach Waters. If he was still here, I never would have left."
Three generations of the Waters family - his widow, Sherri, daughter Mica and a grandchild - were at the news conference last week.
He said Sheridan took him into his coaching family and taught him how to dispense "discipline with love." Under O'Cain he said he learned the true priorities of a head coach - God, family and football.
"We'll miss (Connecticut), but it's not home," Briggs said. "I wanted to be here more than anyplace else in the country. So many people have known I tried many times."
Briggs was interviewed for the job five years ago but was passed over for Bill Bleil, the man he is replacing. Bleil was dismissed shortly after he was named coach of the year in the Southern Conference following a 7-4 record. Compher cited off-the-field problems, including a player being charged with murder, as the reason for Bleil's reassignment to a teaching position.
Briggs pointed to support he received from State Senator Dan Robinson, a former WCU head coach, as a key to landing the job.
"I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for his blessing," he said.
While he has achieved his goal of being WCU's head coach, Briggs said the task is still at hand. He said he has an obligation to all current and former WCU players, coaches, students, faculty and administration.
"I'll do everything possible to make you proud of this football program," Briggs said.
One of his priorities is to bring WCU its first Southern Conference championship. Briggs said he is still haunted by near misses as a player in 1978 and as a coach in 1983.
A second priority he cited is preparing players for life.
Lastly, he said he wants to bring the Old Mountain Jug back to Cullowhee. That's the trophy that goes to the winner of the WCU vs Appalachian State game. ASU has won 15 of the past 16 meetings.
"Coach Waters used it for a door stop it was here so much while he was here," Briggs said.
"Kent's experience as a player and coach at Western Carolina is a big plus," Sheridan said. "He now joins many other current coaches who have come back to their alma maters like John Bunting (North Carolina) and Frank Solich (Nebraska)," Sheridan said. "He already has the built-in loyalty to the university and can instill that in his players. I don't think that Western could have made a better choice than Kent Briggs."
Compher said he expected Briggs to recruit "only student-athletes with a legitimate chance to succeed academically and athletically."
Briggs played at Reynolds High in Asheville before coming to Western. He is married to the former Lisa Thomas, also a WCU graduate. They are the parents of 9-year-old Alexandra and 6-year-old Cody.
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Kent Briggs, a former Western Carolina player and assistant coach, was introduced Friday as the school's 11th football coach.