Belhaven College Men's Football

CJ Nightingale enters his third season at the helm of the Belhaven Football program after being named the eighth Head Coach in team history by Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Little in December 2023. In 2025, Nightingale led the Blazers to a 6-4 record, coaching the team to consecutive seasons with a .500 or better record. The team won five straight USA South Conference games, playing for outright share of the USA South Conference Championship on November 8th at LaGrange. The team had 11 All-USA South Selections, including USA South Defensive Player of the Year Wyatt Beck, Dee Gray, Kyle Norris and Cam Williams. Five other players earned All-USA South Second Team honors. In his first season as Belhaven Head Coach, Nightingale helped lead the Blazers to a 5-5 overall finish and a 5-3 record in USA South play that included winning four of their last five against conference opposition. Nightingale's debut campaign saw him coach 10 All-USA South selections headlined by Wyatt Beck, Jimmy Byrd, Icarius Hodgin and Constantine Hontzas who all landed on the All-USA South First Team. Hontzas and Beck would go on to earn D3football.com All-Region III Third Team honors and were joined by freshman Mathew Cacamo who earned an All-Region III First Team nod as a special teams player.   As a former collegiate player and current coach, Nightingale has extensive experience at the NCAA Division III level having played at the collegiate level for Wheaton College (IL) before serving in multiple coaching capacities at both the NCAA Division III and NAIA levels.   Nightingale arrives at Belhaven after spending four seasons as the Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach at Wheaton College where the Thunder reached the NCAA Division III playoffs in all four years and won the CCIW in 2019.   In 2022, Nightingale was named as a participant in the American Football Coaches Association 35 Under 35 Leadership Institute, a prestigious program designed to identify and develop some of the best young coaches in the country. Additionally, Nightingale has been a speaker at AFCA Coaching Clinics as well as at Glazier Coaching Clinics.   This past season, Nightingale coached a defense that finished as the #2 defense in points per game and yards per game in the CCIW, an identical mark to what was held in the 2022 campaign.   Nightingale's 2021 defense led the country in Total Sacks and Sacks Per Game while ranking second in Rushing Yards Per Game Allowed and third in Total Tackles for Loss.   In his first year at Wheaton, Nightingale's 2019 unit was the top scoring defense in the country while also holding the best Yards Allowed Per Game average, Yards Allowed Per Play average, and Defensive Passing Efficiency nationally. His nationally renowned defense earned him a spot as a finalist for FootballScoop.com's NCAA Division III Assistant Coach of the Year Award.   Across his time as Defensive Coordinator for the Thunder, Nightingale coached 24 All-Conference players, 10 All-Region players, and seven All-Americans. He also coached CCIW and National Defensive Player of the Year, Dallas McRae in 2019 who also earned CCIW Defensive Player of the Year in 2021.   Prior to his coaching time at Wheaton, Nightingale served as the Special Teams Coordinator and Linebackers Coach at Indiana Wesleyan University (NAIA) from 2017-2019, helping mold a program that had its first varsity season in 2018 and went 7-3 during their inaugural campaign.   Nightingale got his collegiate coaching start at Greenville University (DIII) where he served as Defensive Backs Coach for the 2016 season. During his time at Greenville, Nightingale helped on a staff that had the UMAC Player of the Year, one All-American, and an NFL Signee.   Prior to coaching, Nightingale was a four-year letter-winner at Wheaton College as a defensive back and return specialist. In 2010, Nightingale was a part of a Thunder team that made it to the Round of 16 in the NCAA Division III Playoffs and in 2012 he was a part of a CCIW Championship team.   Collegiate Coaching Record   Year School Record Conference Record / Finish Postseason 2025 Belhaven 6-4 5-2 / 3rd 2024 Belhaven 5-5 5-3 / 5th Total (2) 11-9 10-5   Blazers Under Coach Nightingale All-Region Mathew Cacamo D3football.com (2024) Wyatt Beck D3football.com (2024) Constantine Hontzas D3football.com (2024) Conference Superlatives Wyatt Beck CCS Defensive Player of the Year (2025) All-Conference 21 All-USA South Selections Eight First Team Nine Second Team Two Honorable Mentions Two Sportsmanship Coaching Career Timeline   Years School Position 2024-pres. Belhaven (Div. III) Head Coach 2019-23 Wheaton (Div. III) Defensive Coordinator 2017-18 Indiana Wesleyan (NAIA) Special Teams Coordinator / Linebackers Coach 2016 Greenville (Div. III) Defensive Backs Coach 2014-15 Richmond (HS) Wide Receivers / Defensive Backs Coach  

Zay Stephens enters his third season as a part of the Belhaven Football coaching staff after joining ahead of the 2024 campaign as a Graduate Assistant Coach with the Offensive Line. Stephens has helped with all facets of the game as Film Coordinator while also helping a talented defensive line alongside Ty Nix. Stephens initially joined the staff directly following his Belhaven playing career in which he played a pivotal role in the growth of the program as an offensive lineman. Stephens spent five seasons with the Blazers where he played as part of a deep offensive line group that was among the best in the country. In his final season, Stephens joined with a high-powered offense that led the Blazers to their best overall season in program history at 9-2 and earned them their first ever USA South Championship.  

Chase Capon enters his second season on the Belhaven Football staff after being named as a Graduate Assistant Coach for Wide Receivers and an Offensive Analyst by Head Coach CJ Nightingale.  Assisting with the wide receiver room, Capon helped coach TJ Hatch to an All-USA South Second Team selection in 2025. Capon joins the Blazers from Florida International (D1) where he served as a Student Assistant Coach with a focus on Wide Receivers. Prior to that, he was a Student Assistant Coach at Coral Springs Charter School. A Coral Springs, Florida native, Capon holds a Bachelor's Degree in Recreation and Sports Management from FIU.

Jay'Den Jones is heading into his second season as a part of the Belhaven Football staff, joining as a Graduate Assistant Coach with a focus on linebackers following a strong playing career in the Green and Gold. In his first campaign on the Belhaven staff, Jones helped a talented linebackers room that was one of the standout position groups in the conference. Senior Wyatt Beck was named the USA South Defensive Player of the Year after posting a league-leading 85.0 tackles. Tyler Miller joined Beck in earning All-South recognition being named to the conference's Second Team.  Jones was a four-year player for the Blazers where he made an impact on defense as a linebacker. Across his four years with the Blazers, Jones appeared in 32 games and recorded 113 total tackles with 9.5 tackles for loss. Originally from Greenville, Mississippi, Jones graduated from Greenville-Weston High School.

Phazion Locke returns to Jackson as he enters his second season with the Belhaven Football staff as a Graduate Assistant focusing on cornerbacks. Locke joins the staff just a couple of seasons removed from an illustrious playing career for the Blazers. In his first season back with the Blazers, Locke helped coach a talented secondary that saw senior cornerback Dee Gray earn All-USA South First Team honors and D3football.com All-Region recognition. Locke played for five seasons for the Blazers where he was a shutdown corner playing in 45 games. The Mobile native was a two-time All-Conference player earning an American Southwest Conference Third Team selection in 2021 and a USA South First Team selection in 2022. Across his time in Jackson, Locke accounted for 153 total tackles, six interceptions and 32 career pass break-ups.  

Wes Dusek enters his third season as a part of the Belhaven Football staff having been named the Director of Football Operations prior to the 2024 season by Head Coach CJ Nightingale. Dusek joined Belhaven from Covenant College where he was a student-athlete, spending four seasons as a part of the Scots' baseball program and graduating with a degree in Business Administration. A native of Wheaton, Illinois, Dusek spent parts of 2022 and 2023 as a Football Operations Intern for the University of Georgia prior to taking over the operations role for the Blazers. 

Josh Sheron enters his third year on the Belhaven Football staff and his second as the program's sole Offensive Coordinator after being named Co-Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach ahead of the 2024 season by Head Coach CJ Nightingale. In 2025, Sheron's offensive line group saw two All-USA South selections as left tackle Cam Williams was named to the All-USA South First Team and right tackle Cortney Lyles was named to the All-USA South Second Team. The offense as a whole also saw three other All-USA South selections with wideout TJ Hatch, tight end Tyler Craft and quarterback Brock Morris all earning recognition. The 2025 Belhaven offense averaged over 24.0 points per game and 313.1 yards per game. In his first season in Jackson, Sheron helped lead the Blazers to a 5-5 season and 5-3 USA South campaign that included winning four of their last five in conference action. The Blazers' offense saw success under Sheron, particularly late in the year where they averaged over 28 points per game in their final five contests. Sheron's first season also saw four offensive players named to an All-USA South team led by Jacobey James-Grace who earned an All-USA South Second Team nod and pair of offensive linemen in Gabe Rankins and Micheal Anderson who also earned All-USA South Second Team honors. Sheron joined the Blazers from Lawrence University, a Division III program in Appleton, Wisconsin where he served as Offensive Line Coach and Run Game Coordinator from 2021-2023. Prior to Lawrence, Sheron served in multiple roles on the coaching staff at Indiana Wesleyan including coaching tackles, tight ends and working as Director of Football Operations. Sheron played at, and graduated from, Trine University.  

Javon Harris enters his third season on the Belhaven Football coaching staff after being named as the program's Defensive Backs Coach by CJ Nightingale ahead of the 2024 season. In addition to his role with the Blazers' secondary, Harris will also assume the responsibility of Special Teams Coordinator for the 2025 campaign. In 2025, the Belhaven secondary continued to see success with multiple individual recognitions handed out to Blazers' ballhawks. Cornerback Dee Gray earned an All-USA South First Team selection while racking up 13 pass breakups. Gray also pulled in All-Region honors from D3football.com while safety Icarius Hodgin joined Gray in earning All-USA South recognition. Harris' first season with the Blazers saw strong success for Belhaven on the defensive side of the ball with the Blazers' secondary making a strong impact. Harris saw two members of the Blazers' defensive back group earn All-USA South honors with safety Icarius Hodgin earning an All-Conference First Team selection and corner Dee Gray grabbing a Second Team nod. Hodgin tallied 39.0 tackles and a team-leading three interceptions in his first season under Harris while Gray led the USA South with 14 pass breakups which also was the second best mark in a single campaign for Belhaven. Harris spent four years playing collegiately at Indiana Wesleyan (NAIA).

Brady Ackerman enters his second season with the Belhaven Football program having been named the team's Quarterbacks Coach by Head Coach CJ Nightingale in the spring of 2024. In his first season with the Blazers, Ackerman helped coach quarterback Brock Morris to an All-USA South Honorable Mention selection. Ackerman joins Belhaven from Belleview High School in Belleview, Florida where he served as the program's Head Coach since December of 2020. Under Ackerman, Belleview saw a historic turnaround, winning eight games in 2021 for the first time since 2004 and earning a playoff berth for the first time since 2017. Prior to Belleview, Ackerman spent three years on the staff at Jackson State (DI) where he spent time as an Offensive Analyst, Inside Receivers Coach and Wide Receivers Coach. In his career stops along the way, Ackerman has spent time on the coaching staff's at Jacksonville State (D1) and Valdosta State (D2) with the latter seeing him spend time under legendary coach Mike Leach. Ackerman played at the collegiate level at the University of Florida (D1) where he was a running back and played for Steve Spurrier. Along with his coaching experience, Ackerman has spent time in the media in Gainesville covering the Florida Gators program.

Mayowa Asagunla is entering his fifth year on the Belhaven Blazers staff and second as the program's Pass Game Coordinator as he adds that title to being the Blazers' Recruiting Coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach. In 2025, Asagunla saw sophomore wideout TJ Hatch earn an All-USA South Second Team selection following a strong season that saw him have a team-leading six touchdown receptions. Coaching the receivers in 2024, Asagunla helped senior wide receiver Jacobey James-Grace to an All-USA South Second Team honor. The Belhaven alum spent the 2023 campaign as the program's Tight Ends / Fullbacks Coach and prior to that, served as an Offensive Graduate Assistant in 2022 where he worked with quarterbacks and wide receivers. Asagunla helped produce a record-breaking offense in his first season with the staff. The 2022 Blazers' offense put up 38 points per game while averaging 460.5 yards a game. Belhaven's air attack combined for 23 scores and 1,735 yards to lead the Blazers to the best season in program history (8-2). Asagunla played three seasons for Belhaven as a quarterback where he amassed nearly 2,500 passing yards, over 1,000 yards rushing and 34 total touchdowns. He is currently 5th all-time in single season rushing touchdowns after finishing with 10 scores in the fall of 2021.  Prior to joining Belhaven, Asagunla played football at East Central Community College as a quarterback. Asagunla was awarded the Luke 2:52 award twice and was named a finalist for the East Central Hall of Fame. Asagunla played and graduated from Hillcrest Christian School in Jackson where he was a three-sport athlete competing in football, baseball and basketball. During his time at Hillcrest he was named an All-Star in both football and basketball while also being named the Division II 4A Player of the Year in 2017. Asagunla was also named Mr. Hillcrest and is in HCS's Hall of Fame. Asagunla is married to his wife, former Belhaven Volleyball player, Grace Eidson.

Ty Nix enters his third season with the Belhaven Football program after being named Defensive Line Coach by Head Coach CJ Nightingale ahead of the 2024 season. The 2025 campaign saw the Belhaven defense rack up 24.0 sacks and 71.0 tackles for loss aided in large part by a strong defensive line. Nix's first season with Belhaven saw plenty of success on the defensive side of the ball, particularly on the defensive line. Under Nix, defensive end Jimmy Byrd earned his first All-USA South recognition being named to the league's First Team. Byrd set career-highs in total tackles, tackles for loss and sack in his first season working with Nix. Nix joined Belhaven from Millsaps College where he was the Defensive Line Coach for the 2023 season. Prior to Millsaps, Nix was a Defensive Analyst at Division I Coastal Carolina for two seasons, assisting with the defensive line and running the scout team. Prior to Coastal Carolina, he spent time at East Carolina as a graduate assistant. Nix is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State where was a three-year letter-winner and 2020 team captain. Nix comes from a coaching family with his father Tyrone Nix having spent over 25 years coaching at the Division I level and his uncle Derrick Nix currently serving as the Offensive Coordinator for Auburn.  

Kade Young enters his second season as the Belhaven Tight Ends Coach after joining the staff ahead of the 2025 campaign. In his first season in Jackson, Young saw standout Tight End Tyler Craft earn his first All-Conference recognition as he was named to the All-USA South Second Team. A native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Young brings both playing and coaching experience to the Blazers. He played collegiately as a quarterback before beginning his coaching career at Faulkner University, where he served on staff from 2022-23. Young earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Troy University and completed his Master's in Business Administration at Faulkner University. He and his wife, Payton, have two children, Keyan and Adeline Grace.

Bradley Foley is entering his fifth year with the Belhaven Football staff coaching the Blazers' running backs as well as serving as the program's Camp Coordinator. The 2025 campaign saw Foley help lead back Caleb Gallashaw to nearly 500 yards on the ground and a season average of 4.0 yards per carry. In 2024, the running backs room was once again strong and relied on a balance of three talented backs. Devin Daniels, D'Ante Gallashaw and Caleb Gallashaw combined to help lead the Blazers to over 1600 yards gained on the ground and 14 rushing touchdowns. The Blazers averaged 4.3 yards per carry in 2024 with Daniels pacing the group with six rushing touchdowns while both Gallashaw's averaged over 5.5 yards per carry. The 2023 season was a strong one for Foley's running backs room which featured a three-headed monster of Kolbe Blunt, Devin Daniels and D'Ante Gallashaw. The trio led the Blazers to 2,975 yards gained on the ground and 39 rushing touchdowns en route to a 9-2 season and the Blazers' first USA South Championship. Kolbe Blunt earned the USA South Offensive Player of the Year award and was named to the D3football.com All-Region III First Team. Blunt also broke Foley's all-time rushing yards record for the program in a 61-7 win over Southern Virginia. In 2022, Foley coached the Blazers' receiving corp which played a prominent role in Belhaven featuring the highest scoring offense and most productive offense in terms of total yards in the USA South.  Foley joined the Belhaven coaching staff after finishing his playing career as a standout player for the Blazers in 2021. Foley played five seasons for the Blazers where he established himself as one of the most prolific running backs to don the Green & Gold.  Foley was a two-time American Southwest Conference All-Conference player during his playing days being named to the ASC First Team Offense in both 2020 and 2021. He also earned a spot on the D3football.com All-Region III First Team Offense following the 2021 season, a year in which he finished with the program's second most carries in single-season (175), second most rushing yards (1,047) and joint fourth most rushing touchdowns (11). He ended his Belhaven career as the program's all-time leading rusher with 3,216 yards across 46 career games surpassing the great Johnnie Horne's record which had stood since 1999 (2,162). At the time of his final game, Foley was also the program's leader in rushing touchdowns (25) and sat joint-second all-time in 100-yard rushing games (11). Foley was named to Belhaven Football's All-25 Year Team in the Fall of 2022 joining the list of the program's greatest ever players.  Foley graduated from Belhaven University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. He is currently pursuing a Master's of Business Administration from Belhaven. Foley is originally from Memphis, Tennessee where he was a standout for Memphis University School.