Arkansas Tech University Men's Football

Roy Thompson enters into his first season as head football at Arkansas Tech after being announced as the program's 18th head coach all-time on December 10. Recently named as the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II National Assistant Coach of the Year, Thompson comes to Tech from Ouachita Baptist where he just completed his 12th year overall on staff. During the past eight seasons played (2020 season not played due to COVID-19) since his return to Ouachita in 2016 as the co-defensive coordinator, Thompson has built the Tigers’ defensive unit into one of the top units not only in the Great American Conference (GAC), but in all of DII.   Since 2018, when Thompson took over the reins of that side of the ball as defensive coordinator, Ouachita has had three seasons in which its points allowed per game were under 20.0, ranking it in the top-10 nationally in DII. The other three seasons, the highest points allowed in a season was 20.7 points per game. Over that same stretch, Thompson’s defensive unit allowed under 320.0 yards per game four times, ranking in the top-35 nationally.   For the 2024 season, Thompson’s defensive unit is ranked 5th in DII in scoring defense (12.0 ppg) and 21st overall in total defense (276.3 ypg). On Oct. 19, Thompson and his defense shined brightly under the lights of primetime in one of the most anticipated matchups of the season as Ouachita hosted then top-ranked and defending national champion Harding.   Heading into that game, Harding had won 25 consecutive games and had an offensive attack that was averaging 554 yards of total offense and 61 points per game. By the final horn, Thompson’s defensive unit stoned Harding to the tune of just 288 yards of total offense and 13 points as the Tigers beat Harding.   Thompson’s time at Ouachita also yielded a ton of championship hardware as well as NCAA postseason experience.   Out of the eight seasons played with Thompson on staff, Ouachita won the GAC championship five times and reached the NCAA playoffs each of those seasons as well, with the most recent coming this season. Of those five conference titles, three saw the Tigers go unbeaten in the regular season.   Prior to his time at Ouachita, Thompson spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons as the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach at Mendocino College in Ukiah, Calif. Thompson’s defensive unit finished the 2015 season ranked No. 4 in total defense in the state of California as well as the No. 1 defense in the Pac-7 Conference and No. 15 nationally in total defense.   A 2006 graduate of Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss., Thompson began his collegiate coaching career the following fall as the defensive line coach at Highland Community College before returning to his alma mater as the defensive line/linebackers coach for the 2008-2009 seasons. Thompson’s next stop brought him to Ouachita for his first stint as he was the defensive line and linebackers coach from 2009-2012.   Thompson and his wife, Julia, have three daughters - Jadyn, London and Cameron - and one son, Trey.

Sam Bartis enters into his second year as a graduate assistant on the Arkansas Tech football staff where he will serve as the tight ends coach. Last season, Bartis worked on the defensive side of the ball and coached the defensive linemen.   A former Wonder Boy football player, Bartis joined the program as an offensive linemen out of Sunnyvale High School in Sunnyvale, Texas in 2020. Bartis would remain on the roster through the 2022 season before transitioning to the coaching side as he became a student assistant in 2023.   Bartis is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Student Affairs. In Spring 2024, Bartis earned his undergraduate degree from Tech in Social Studies Education.  

Josiah Johnson enters into his first season as a graduate assistant at Arkansas Tech and will coach the safeties.   Johnson comes to Tech after an accolade-filled playing career at GAC-rival, Ouachita Baptist. A four-year letterman for the Tigers, Johnson earned All-GAC honors at safety each of his final three seasons and was an All-American in 2023 and 2024.   In his final season, Johnson capped his stellar career by being named the 2024 Cliff Harris Award for NCAA Division II as the best defensive player in the nation. That year, Johnson led one of the best defensive units in the nation. Ouachita would finish 10-2 overall, earn a share of the GAC championship, and earn a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs.   The Little Rock native was the heart and soul of the nation's No. 3 scoring defense with a final total of 72 tackles, six pass deflections, two interceptions, and a blocked punt that was recovered for a touchdown. The Tigers held six of their 11 regular-season opponents to single digits in scoring, including two shutouts in 2024.   For his career, Johnson totaled 241 tackles with 8.5 being for lost yardage and 3.0 being sacks. He also had four interceptions, broke up 15 passes, forced a pair of fumbles and had a blocked punt.  

Jeff Fantuzzi joins the Arkansas Tech staff entering his 12th season as a college football coach and bringing a proven track record of developing all-conference talent, building elite run games, and producing consistently successful offensive line units. Fantuzzi most recently served as the Offensive Line Coach and tight ends coach at Quincy University, where he helped guide the program to a historic season. Under his leadership, Quincy produced three All-Conference offensive linemen and achieved its first winning record while playing a full Division II schedule, establishing a physical and reliable offensive line that was key to the Hawks’ success. Before Quincy, Fantuzzi was the Run Game Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach at Adams State University, where he designed and implemented the team’s run game and led the development of the offensive line. His unit improved both in run blocking efficiency and pass protection, emphasizing fundamentals, communication, and toughness in the trenches. Prior to Adams State, Fantuzzi coached at Northern Michigan University, serving as Offensive Line Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. His line ranked among the top units in the GLIAC in both yards per carry and fewest sacks allowed, while he coordinated a recruiting class of over 50 student-athletes. Fantuzzi also made a major impact at UNC Pembroke, where he helped the program produce its first All-Conference offensive lineman and led the conference in fewest sacks allowed and run-game effectiveness, setting a new standard for the unit and establishing a foundation for future success. Earlier in his career, Fantuzzi coached offensive linemen at North Park University, Manchester University, and began his collegiate coaching journey as a graduate assistant at Wayne State University, where the offense consistently produced top-tier rushing numbers. A former standout offensive lineman at Central Michigan University, Fantuzzi anchored lines that contributed to a 12–2 season with a MAC Championship and GMAC Bowl win, finishing ranked in the AP Top 25. A native of Macomb, Michigan, he was a two-time state champion at Macomb High School and nationally ranked in the ESPN top 350 and awarded as member of the “dream team”. Fantuzzi holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Central Michigan University and a master’s degree in Sports Management from Wayne State University.

Adrian Riley enters into his first season at Arkansas Tech and will serve as the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator.   Riley comes to Tech from Adams State University where he spent seven seasons in various roles with the Grizzles. Beginning his coaching career in 2018 as a graduate assistant wide receivers coach, Riley would be promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach ahead of the 2021 season.   In his first year at Adams State, Riley helped mentor a pair of wideouts that combined for over 2,300 yards on 172 receptions. Those receivers, Chad Hovasse and Marquese Surrell, both went over 1,000 yards that season and combined for 29 touchdown receptions. Hovasse would go on to be named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Offensive Player of the Year as well as a nominee for the Harlon Hill Award and a Second Team All-American.   2019 saw Riley once more mentor a Grizzles’ wide receiver into the RMAC Offensive Player of the Year as Tariq Bitson garnered the honor with over 1,300 yards and 11 touchdowns on 63 total receptions across just nine games. Bitson would also go on to earn Second Team All-America honors that year.   The 2020 season was not played due to COVID, but the season after is when Riley was given the reins of the offense as its coordinator. Riley would go on to hold that role for the next four seasons.   Before joining the coaching ranks, Riley was a three-year starting wide receiver at Jacksonville University.   In his final season at JU in 2013, Riley ranked 11th in the country in punt return average and was named Second Team All-Pioneer League as a punt returner. He still holds JU’s second longest punt return for touchdown at 76 yards and holds JU’s second longest streak of consecutive games with a catch at 28.   Riley obtained his bachelor’s degree in finance with a minor in management from Jacksonville University (FL) in 2013 and later earned his master’s degree from Adams State (CO) in Business leadership in 2019.  

Frank Espy enters his first year as defensive coordinator at Arkansas Tech.   Prior to coming to Tech, Espy was a member of the defensive coaching staff at his alma mater, Ouachita Baptist, under the direction of current Tech head coach Roy Thompson. That connection was an extension of the initial one made between Espy and Thompson back in 2007 as Espy played two his final two collegiate seasons at Ouachita with Thompson as his position coach.   As a player at Ouachita, Espy racked up a total of 60 tackles and a pair of forced fumbles. As a coach from 2023-2024, Espy served as the defensive backs coach for the Tigers. In that role, Espy helped mentor a unit that allowed just nine passing touchdowns against in 2024, which ranked sixth-best in Division II.   Over his two-year stint at Ouachita, Espy coached six all-conference players, two all-region honorees and one All-American. The All-American was current Wonder Boy football graduate assistant coach, Josiah Johnson. Johnson would be a two-time All-American under Espy’s tutelage, and in 2024, he was lauded with the Cliff Harris Award for Division II, tabbing Johnson as the best defensive player in the nation.   Before his return to Ouachita, Espy spent a season at Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich. where he was the defensive line coach. In his one season with the WSU Warriors, Espy coached two honorable mention All-GLIAC recipients, as well as the team’s leader in sacks and tackles for loss. WSU’s defense was tied for first in conference and sixth nationally with 13 fumble recoveries.   A native of Vallejo, Calif., Espy started his collegiate playing career in the junior college ranks at Mendocino Community College in California. There, Espy earned All-Bay Valley recognition and was named the 2005 Defensive Player of the Year while helping lead the Eagles to a Northern California Football Conference title that same year.   Espy went back to Mendocino in 2012. He would coach there through the 2016 season and held roles as defensive backs coach, defensive coordinator and in 2014, Espy became one of the youngest head coaches in the nation when he took the helm for his alma mater at the age of 29. The 2016 MCC Eagles led the nation with 51 takeaways under Espy’s leadership.   Espy’s next stop was as the offensive coordinator for Cabrillo Community College in Aptos, Calif. in 2017. In Espy’s first season with at CCC, he helped lead the Seahawks to a 7-3 record with an offense that put out 419 yards and 35 points per game. The 2019 Seahawks team posted an 8-3 record and made a bowl game appearance while averaging 435 yards per game and scored almost 33 points per game.

Kurt Corbin enters his 14th overall year and 13th-consecutive on the staff at Arkansas Tech. Previously a member of the Wonder Boys staff in 2005 serving as wide receivers coach, Corbin returned to his alma mater in 2013 where he has served in several different roles including as the team's strength and conditioning coach, co-Defensive Coordinator and defensive line coach.   Under his tutelage, Corbin has had his defensive players earn over a dozen All-GAC plaudits, including a GAC Defensive Player of the Year honor for Logan Genz in 2015. In addition to the all-conference recognition, Corbin's players have also received multiple all-region and All-America honors.   Prior to returning to Tech, Corbin spent four years (2009-2012) as the defensive line coach/recruiter at Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches, Texas), guiding a unit that recorded more sacks over a three-year span than any other unit in Division I. The Lumberjacks won back-to-back Southland Conference titles (2009 & 2010), and during his tenure finished among the nation’s top-20 in tackles for loss and top-10 in sacks.   Before joining the SFA staff, Corbin spent the 2008 season at UT-Chattanooga and the previous two seasons as a defensive coach at Northwestern State (2006 & 2007). During his time in Natchitoches, La., Corbin helped produced one of the league’s more intimidating defenses. In 2006, the Demons led the league in six defensive categories, including total defense, rushing defense, pass defense efficiency, opponent first downs and opponent third downs. Corbin helped produce two of the better players in the nation in All-Americans Ed Queen and Tori Collins.   Corbin coached the Demon linebackers and took on the added responsibility of defensive coordinator the following season. Northwestern State posted similar numbers leading the SLC in four defensive categories. The Demons finished the year tops in the league in total defense, pass defense, opponent first downs and opponent third downs.   Corbin began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Northwestern State in 2001 and spent two seasons there. In 2003, Corbin was named the defensive line and linebackers coach at Arkansas-Monticello where he stayed through the 2004 season. A year later, he spent his first year as an assistant coach at Tech in 2005.   Corbin received his bachelor’s degree from Arkansas Tech in 2001 and graduated with a master’s degree from Northwestern State in 2003.   He and his wife, Ashley, have two daughters, Emerson and Kennedy.