Concord University Men's Football

Cody Edwards starts his first season on the sidelines at Concord in 2025. Edwards comes to Concord as the program's 22nd head coach after a stint as the linebackers' coach and special teams' coordinator at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina. Edwards spent the last three seasons at WCU where he was first the linebackers' coach during the 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons before coordinating the Catamounts' special teams in 2024 in addition to his positional coaching on defense. "I am ecstatic and honored to be the Head Football Coach at Concord University," Edwards said. "This is an incredible opportunity, and I can't wait to start working alongside the student-athletes, faculty, staff, and alumni to build something truly special in Athens!"   The 2024 WCU special teams were among the best in the Division I FCS level of football. The Catamounts had three special teams' touchdowns, was one of 24 teams in FCS to block at least two kicks, had a top-25 punt return game and finished first in the Southern Conference in made field goals. Working alongside WCU defensive coordinator Jerry Odom, Edwards helped produce a top-20 defense at the FCS level. Western Carolina finished top 25 in interceptions (21), total takeaways (26) and tackles for loss (79). Over the last three years, WCU sported a record of 20-14—the best run for Catamount football in 30 years—and knocked off five nationally-ranked teams at the FCS level. "My vision for Concord Football is rooted in a commitment to excellence, both on and off the field. We will strive to create a program that not only wins, but develops student-athletes into leaders, hard workers and disciplined individuals," Edwards said.   "The foundation of our success will be built on discipline, accountability, and toughness. I believe in fostering a culture of competitiveness, where every player is challenged to reach their fullest potential, and every coach is committed to the growth and success of the team."   Before his time at Western Carolina, Edwards worked for Odom as the defensive coordinator at Division II school Tusculum University in Greeneville, Tennessee. There, Edwards coordinated a South Atlantic Conference Championship defense in the spring of 2021. Under Edwards' direction, the Pioneers' defense was the best in the SAC and was top 20 in Division II during TU's 4-1 spring campaign. Edwards took over the Tusculum defense in 2019 and consistently had a top three defense in the SAC and a top 25 defense nationally. After the joint success at Tusculum, Odom was hired at Western Carolina to run the defense with Edwards making the move as well. "We are excited to officially welcome Coach Cody Edwards and his family to the Mountain Lion family," Duffy said. Coach Edwards has a storied career as an assistant at both the Division I and Division II levels and brings proven leadership to Concord University football. "We look forward to watching him put his vision into place. He understands the importance of building a championship culture that develops student-athletes on and off the field," Duffy continued. Prior to arriving in eastern Tennessee, Edwards was the defensive coordinator at Keiser University, an NAIA school in West Palm Beach, Florida. "Coach Edwards will bring a passion and work ethic that we are excited to watch in the future," Southcott said. "He comes from a blue-collar background and he will instill that into Concord football. "His recruiting ties within the region and bordering states will help Concord attract student-athletes that have the same values as our campus and the surrounding area." A native of Haysi, Virginia, a small town in the extreme western part of the state, Edwards played wide receiver at former Mountain East Conference member UVa.-Wise from 2006-2009. He graduated from UVa.-Wise in 2010 with a degree in business administration. Edwards later earned his master's degree in organizational training and performance management from Tusculum in 2021. Edwards' first job in college coaching came in 2011 as the video coordinator for Emory & Henry. He moved onto the University of Tennessee in 2012 as a video intern before starting his climb up the coaching ladder as the safeties coach at John Carroll University in Ohio in 2013. Along with recruiting the Carolinas at his last two coaching stops, Edwards has recruited western Virginia, various parts of Florida as well as Georgia at Tusculum and Western Carolina. Edwards is married to Kaitlin Edwards and together they have a baby daughter, Reese. Edwards will be formally introduced as Concord's head coach in a press conference set for 1:00 p.m. Tuesday in the Carter Center. The press conference is open to the public and will also be streamed on mountaineast.tv/concord. WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT COACH EDWARDS Jerry Odom, Western Carolina Defensive Coordinator "I have had the pleasure of working with Cody for six years and he is going to do a great job at Concord. His passion for building quality players along with a clear vision for his program will be a blessing for everyone in the Concord University community."   Kerwin Bell, Western Carolina Head Coach  "I am really excited for Cody to have the opportunity to become the head football coach at Concord University. For the last four years I have seen, firsthand, Cody's intelligence, focus on goal setting, and his detailed approach to every part of his life. I believe Concord is getting a great coach who will build a championship level program." Justin Hinds, Seattle Seahawks Defensive Line Coach "Concord University made a home run hire with Cody Edwards. He is a leader of men and a great football coach. The level of detailed and intent he brings each day will elevate the football program and the Concord University community."

Gravely will begin his seventh season as the Mountain Lions football teams cornerbacks coach in 2016. One of the longest tenured coaches on the coaching staff, Gravely has compiled a record of 38-20 since returning to Concord.   In his time in charge of Concords cornerbacks, Gravely has coached two all-conference award winners in three-time All-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honoree Riyahd Richardson and one-time all-league recipient Nate Pollard. Richardson also went on to be named an all-region performer twice and an All-American once.   Through four seasons under Gravely, Concords cornerbacks have amassed 24 interceptions.   Last season, Concords defense ranked third in NCAA Division II in third down defense, third in first downs allowed, fourth in passing yards allowed and 14 th in interceptions thanks in large part to Gravelys cornerbacks.   The units success in 2013 came on the heels of a 2012 season that saw the Mountain Lions rank 14th in the nation in total defense, 11th in scoring defense and seventh in passing defense last season with both of CUs starting corners (Richardson and Pollard) being recognized as all-league performers.   In Gravelys first season as a Concord coach in 2010, the Mountain Lions defense ranked first in pass defense and third in interceptions in the WVIAC.   Before entering the coaching ranks, Gravely starred in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for 11 seasons with the Ottawa Rough Riders (1991), BC Lions (1992-93) and the Baltimore Stallions/Montreal Alouettes (1996-01).   In 1995 Gravely helped the Baltimore Stallions win the Grey Cup before following the franchise when it moved to Montreal to become the Alouettes the following year. He was voted to the CFL All-Star team in 1996 when he also won the James P. McCaffrey Trophy as the Eastern Conferences top defensive player.   Gravely played in 112 games over his career with the Alouettes and was named to the originations All-Decade Team in 2005.   Prior to beginning his professional career, Gravely was a two-time first team All-WVIAC selection for the Mountain Lions. He was named the leagues Defensive Player of the Year as well as a first team All-American in 1989.   Gravely made 205 tackles and grabbed eight interceptions in his 40-game Concord career. The Kimball, West Virginia native still ranks ninth in CU history in career interceptions.  

Dante Johnson comes to Concord for his first season as the defensive line coach for the Mountain Lions in 2025.  Johnson has familiarity with head coach Cody Edwards after previously working at Western Carolina.  Johnson bounced around the defensive side of the ball as a quality control coach. And even though Johnson was only a full-time coach at WCU for two years, he was an undergraduate student assistant coach for five years prior. In addition to his defensive knowledge, Johnson spent time working with the Western Carolina special teams.