Averett University Men's Football

Matt Quinn was named the Averett University football head coach in December 2025. Quinn came to Averett with more than a decade of coaching experience at multiple levels and is a two-time South Carolina Region 4 AAAA Coach of the Year. This past fall, he served as offensive coordinator at Scotland High School, helping guide the team to an 8-4 mark and a 6A conference championship. Prior to that, Quinn was named head coach in February 2025 at NAIA St. Andrews University and coached the program during spring practice before the school’s closure in May 2025. “Throughout our search process, we were impressed by Matt Quinn’s organization and vision for the future of Averett football,” Averett Director of Athletics Danny Miller said. “He is an experienced coach who, even in a short window of time as head coach at St. Andrews University before it closed, was able to connect with prospective student-athletes and build real recruiting momentum by signing more than 60 recruits in about three months. That ability to build relationships quickly speaks volumes about the kind of leader and recruiter he is, and we’re excited about the future of our program under his direction.” Quinn is the fifth head coach in Averett football history since the program’s inception in 2000. The Cougars have one conference championship, 190 all-conference selections and 12 All-America selections. “Averett University is a special place with great people and tremendous potential,” Quinn said. “I’m blessed to have the opportunity to lead this program and I am excited to build a team that our players, alumni and university can be proud of. My family and I are excited to join the Averett family.” Quinn has been successful throughout his coaching career, which began in 2012 at Darlington High School. After one season as tight ends coach at Limestone University, he had successful stops as offensive coordinator at Westside High School and Westwood High School. From 2017-18, he was head coach at Union Pines High School and was the “Carolina Panthers Coach of the Week” before being named head coach at Westwood, where he guided the school to its first region title and he was named Region Coach of the Year. Quinn also coached several high school all-star games during that time. In 2022, he was named head coach at North Augusta High School, where his team won the region championship and he was named Region Coach of the Year. He then served as head coach at Chesterfield High School, leading the team to its first winning season and playoff appearance in three years. Quinn transitioned back to college after being named the head coach at St. Andrews the next spring. Quinn began his collegiate playing career at Vanderbilt University before finishing his career at Presbyterian College. Quinn graduated from Presbyterian in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in history. He received his master’s degree in sports administration from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 2021. He joined the Averett community along with his wife, Meighan, and two daughters, Mattie and Marleigh.  

2023 Defensive Coordinator - Averett University 2017-2022 Outside LBs Coach NC A&T State University 2014-2016 Defensive Back Coach Elon University 2010-2012 Safeties Coach Ball State University 2000-2010 Defensive Backs Coach Wofford College

Zach Carabo joined the Averett University football staff ahead of the 2026 season. Most recently, Carabo has served as an assistant trainer at NxTLvL Gym in Cheraw, South Carolina, since 2022. In that role, he designed and implemented training programs, delivered hands-on instruction, evaluated athlete performance and provided feedback to help players improve strength, conditioning and technique.  A former offensive lineman, Carabo played four seasons at Division-II Newberry College from 2022-25, where he saw action at both center and guard.  At the high school level, Carabo was a team captain and key contributor at Cheraw High School. He earned Player of the Game honors during his senior season and helped lead the team to the third round of the state playoffs while blocking for an all-state running back who rushed for more than 1,000 yards. Hailing from Cheraw, South Carolina, Carabo earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Project and Supply Chain Management from Newberry College in 2025.  

Isaac Mosby '23 joined the Averett University football coaching staff as an assistant coach in August 2025 and assists with the defensive line. Mosby played five seasons with the Averett football team from 2018-22, playing all 10 games in each of his final two seasons. In his final season, he started all 10 games on the defensive line and finished with 55 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks while forcing two fumbles and totaling three quarterback hurries. He had 88 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks over his career. Mosby moved to the football coaching staff after serving as an assistant coaching and director of operations with the Averett men's wrestling program in 2024-25. A native of Chesterfield, Virginia, Mosby wrestled at Matoaca High School before coming to Averett, where he graduated in May 2023 with his bachelor's degree. He's currently pursuing his master's degree in business administration.  

Al Smith has been with the Averett football team since the program’s inception in 2000. He serves as the specialists coach and has produced several strong kickers during his time with the Cougars. Smith coached former Averett standout Sean Sullivan into a professional football career in 2003. Sullivan played with the Tennessee Valley Vipers of the Arena2 Football League. Smith attended Lees-McRae College, where he was the kicker for the Bobcats, from 1961-62. He then transferred to Averett and earned a bachelors of science degree. Smith is most recognized for his public service to the city of Danville as a captain in the Danville Police Department. He and his wife, Becky, live in Danville and have two sons, Brandon and Jason.

Charles Taylor joined on as a defensive line coach for the Averett University football staff in February 2026. Taylor heads to Averett after a near two-year stint at his alma mater, Waynesburg University in Pennsylvania. There, Taylor served multiple positions, including a graduate assistant, defensive line coach, strength and conditioning coach, video coordinator, and assistant director of football operations. He broke down film of opposing teams, planned and executed practice plans, recruited high school athletes and executed scheduled lifts with the football team.  Hailing from Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, Taylor is currently finishing his Master of Business Administration from Waynesburg University. Taylor attained his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Waynesburg University in 2024.

Brad Lopez rejoined the Averett University football program as an assistant coach in August 2020. In spring 2025, Lopez moved to coaching the linebackers group for the Cougars. Previously, Lopez was an assistant coach with the Cougars from 2012-2017, where he coached running backs for four seasons before moving to coach tight ends in 2016 and 2017. He returned to the Averett coaching staff in 2020, coaching the tight ends for two seasons before moving to the other side of the ball as an assistant defensive backs coach for the 2022 season. In spring 2023, Lopez moved back to coaching the running backs group for the Cougars through the 2024 season. Before coming to Averett in 2012, Lopez had coached high school football for the 23 years, including nine seasons at nearby George Washington High School. While there, he served as the assistant head coach and the passing game coordinator. He again coached at GW from 2018-2019 and is a teacher in the math department at the high school.   For six years before coming to Danville, Brad was the head varsity football coach at Laurel Park High School in Martinsville, Virginia, where he led the Lancers to the regional playoffs in back to back seasons. Prior to his contribution at Laurel Park, he started his coaching career as the quarterback coach at Bassett High School. He later worked as the offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator throughout his eight-year tenure at Bassett.   Lopez, a native of Axton, Virginia, graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor of science degree in Secondary Education.   He currently lives in Martinsville with his wife Sheila.

Patrick Bolen was promoted to assistant head coach of the Averett University football staff in January 2026. He was previously on the staff on a full-time basis in March 2023 after serving as a long-time part-time coach with the Cougars' program. Bolen has been affiliated with the Averett football program for a majority of its existence. He coached the Cougars' offensive line from 2006-09 before rejoining the program, where he helped coach the defensive line during the 2011 season. He then served as a linebackers coach and defensive assistant coach before moving to offense to coach the offensive line and tight ends. During his tenure, he's also helped coach long snappers and various special teams positions with Averett. Bolen has coached 24 all-conference selections and four players who went on to play professionally. Before joining Averett's football staff, Bolen was a linebackers coach at Christiansburg High School from 2003-06. Bolen graduated from Averett in 2008 with a degree in sociology and criminal justice. He completed his master's in business management from the University of Phoenix in 2011. Bolen lives in Danville with his wife, Heidi, and daughter, Aubrey, and son, Camden.  

Shawn Baldwin joined the Averett University football staff as the defensive coordinator in January of 2026. Baldwin enters the ODAC with both NFL and Division III experience in coaching. Prior to his arrival at Averett, Baldwin was the defensive coordinator at Nation Ford High School. His previous position before that was the external film analyst for scouting research for the Cleveland Browns. Here, Baldwin broke down individual plays for various positions, and created scouting reports for draft-eligible prospects for the coaching and personnel departments. His previous professional stop was for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023, where he served as the football operations and scouting coach for offseason and training camp players.  Baldwin was an assistant coach and player liaison for Division III Anderson University from 2021-2022. Baldwin coached three all-conference selections, and helped to improved the Anderson defense in major statistical categories, which included points per game allowed, rushing yards and passing yards allowed.  A former United States Air Force staff sergeant, Baldwin graduated valedictorian of the Non-Commissioned Officer Airman Leadership School.  Originally from Albemarle, North Carolina, Baldwin earned his Master of Business Administration from Anderson University in 2023. He also graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in recreation, sports leadership and tourism management from the University of North Carolina Wilmington in 2021. 

Avery James joined the Averett University football staff as the special teams coordinator in January of 2026. James arrived at Averett with years of coaching at the high school level. Before joining Averett's fold, James was last the special teams coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Sprayberry High School in Marietta, Georgia. Here, James contributed to the team's most points scored in a single season in school history, while also leading them to the playoffs. Previous to his time at Sprayberry, James was the special teams coordinator and inside linebacker coach at Westside High School in Anderson, South Carolina. While at Westside, James served as a recruiting liaison, and won a state championship in two years.  James had other various stops at high and middle schools across South Carolina, gaining a wealth of experience as a defensive-based coach. Originally from Duncan, South Carolina, James played safety at then Division I FCS Liberty University, where he started 13 of 14 games as a true freshman, and finished with 19 tackles and an interception. In his sophomore campaign, James finished with 71 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. James graduated from the University of South Carolina Upstate in August 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Experimental Psychology. He resides in Danville with his wife, Laurin.