Fairmont State University Men's Football

Luke Barker enters his second season with the Falcons after he was named the 19th head football coach in program history on Jan. 27, 2024. For the 2025 season, Barker led the Falcons to a record of 6-5 while going 3-5 in conference play. Fairmont State had 14 players named to the All-MEC teams. On the First Team were Leonard Farrow, Davin Driskell, Ethan Wolford, Emmanuel Richardson and Ethan Vargo-Thomas. On the Second Team were LeJay Hatcher, Winston Page, Brandon Hastings, Nemo Roberts, Montel Sims, Tyrees Smith and Karron Watties. Rounding out the All-Conference honorees were Joey Ramsey and Matt Pack as All-MEC Honorable Mention. Farrow was also named to the D2CCA All-Super Region 1 Second Team while being a Harlon Hill Trophy nominee. In his first season, Fairmont State finished the 2024 campaign with a record of 7-4 with an MEC record of 6-3. His seven wins ties a program-record for the most wins in a head coach's first year with the Fairmont State football program. The Falcons had 11 players named to the All-MEC teams including Freshman Offensive Player of the Year, Nino Marzullo who also earned Honorable Mention. Other names on the list were Dereik Crosby II (First Team), Carter Giacomo (First Team), Brandon Hastings (First Team), Eltayeb Bushra (First Team), Emmanuel Richardson (First Team), Gage Michael (Second Team), Izuchukwu Igwe (Second Team), Nick Longo (Second Team), Eli Burgey (Honorable Mention) and Howard Williams (Honorable Mention).  Barker has numerous ties to the Mountain East Conference including his most recent stop as the Associate Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator at the University of Charleston. During his stint with the Golden Eagles, he coached eight different All-MEC players including the 2021 and 2023 Offensive Player of the Year. Over his three seasons at Charleston, the team went 27-10 with a conference title in 2023 and reaching the second round of the super region in the NCAA Division II Playoffs. Last year, Barker's offense led the conference in scoring, first downs, rushing touchdowns, total yards, total touchdowns and several other categories. Prior to Charleston, Barker was the Assistant Head Coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania while also serving as the running backs and tight ends coach. Spanning over six seasons, IUP went 50-11 with four trips to the NCAA Division II Playoffs with a National Semifinal Appearance in 2017. Barker came to IUP from West Virginia Wesleyan. He spent two seasons with the Bobcats, coaching the Running Backs and heading up the special teams under head coach George Shehl. During his two years at WVW, Barker worked with young running back Michael Anderson, who ran for a combined 1,156 yards and seven touchdowns during his freshman and sophomore seasons. Anderson also was a reliable receiving threat out of the backfield, catching 42 passes for 416 yards in 2014. The Cincinnati native graduated from the University of Charleston in 2012 with a degree in Business Administration. He and his wife, Nicole, have two sons: Wilson and Jack.   Luke Barker Record 2024-Present Year Overall Record Conference Record 2024 7-4 6-3 2025 6-5 3-5 Total 13-9 (.591) 9-8 (.529)

Zack Johnson enters his second season at Fairmont State as the Falcons' Associate Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, and Linebackers Coach. Coach Johnson comes to Fairmont State after serving as the Co-Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) for the past two seasons. During his two-year stint at IUP, Johnson helped lead one of the PSAC’s best defensive units and was a key figure in their 2022 PSAC Championship. In 2023, the Crimson Hawks defense ranked #2 in the PSAC in scoring defense (19.7) and finished in the top five in almost every defensive category in the league. IUP landed four defensive players as All-PSAC selections. Coach Johnson helped mentor 1st Team All-PSAC linebacker, Drew Dinunzio-Biss. Dinunzio-Biss had 94 total tackles and 5.5 sacks on the season while also earning postseason All-American honors. IUP landed five defensive players as All-PSAC selections in 2022. The IUP defense was stout once again in 2022, helping the program capture the PSAC Championship with a win against Shepherd. The Crimson Hawks ranked fifth in the PSAC in scoring defense (19.8), 28th nationally in total defense (291.2), 25th nationally in red zone defense (.697) and 18th nationally in interceptions (15). Additionally, the Crimson Hawks featured a vaunted one-two punch at the linebacker position with All-PSAC First Team selection Drew DiNunzio-Biss and Connor Kelly. The pair combined for 169 tackles and 15.0 TFLs in the middle of the IUP defense. Johnson went to Indiana from the University of Charleston (W.Va.), where he spent the last five seasons, including two as the defensive coordinator. Prior to Charleston, Johnson spent the 2016 season at Ohio University where he was the defensive graduate assistant. Johnson directed one of the top defenses in Division II, as the Golden Eagles ranked seventh in the nation in points allowed (14.3) and 12th in total defense (260.4). The Charleston defense was stingy with the pass, leading the nation with an 87.9 efficiency defense and ranking 13th with just 153.0 yards allowed through the air. The Golden Eagles were also sixth in the nation with a 26.6 defensive third down conversion rate and ninth with 3.5 sacks per game. Six Golden Eagles defenders earned All-Mountain East Conference (MEC) in 2021, including lineman Eliah Goodman, linebacker Keon Freeman and defensive back Kei Beckham. At Ohio, Johnson helped the Bobcats rank as the No. 1 defensive unit in the Mid-American Conference and the top-5 rushing defensive in Division I. He helped the development of NFL Draft picks Quinten Poling and Blair Brown. Johnson helped coach the Bobcats to an 8-6 record and a trip to the 2016 Dollar General Bowl. The Morgantown, West Virginia native graduated from West Virginia University in 2015 with a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education/Health Education and minors in Special Education and History. While at WVU he served as a student assistant on defense with the linebackers from 2012-2015. He helped with the development of NFL Draft pick Nick Kwiatkowski. He and his wife, Kaylynn, have a son, Micah, and are expecting twins in April.  

David Rich enters his second season here at Fairmont State as the Falcons' Running Backs coach and the Director of Equipment. Rich joined Fairmont State’s staff in 2024 as Running Backs Coach and Director of Equipment. In his first season, he coached standout running back Dereik Crosby II to First Team All-MEC honors, continuing his track record of developing high-performing student-athletes. He enters the 2025 season in his second year with the Falcons, leading the running back unit and overseeing the program’s equipment operations. While at University of Cincinnati, he gained valuable experience as a Recruiting and Offensive Line Student Assistant, contributing to one of the program’s most successful eras. During his time with the Bearcats, he was part of back-to-back No. 1 recruiting classes in the American Athletic Conference (2018, 2020), two bowl victories (2018 Military Bowl, 2019 Birmingham Bowl), the 2020 AAC Championship, and a berth in the Peach Bowl. Rich began his college coaching career in 2021 as the Running Backs Coach at Mount St. Joseph University, where he helped Mariano McKenzie earn HCAC Honorable Mention honors. The following year, he transitioned to the defensive line, quickly establishing himself as a key developer of talent. His 2022 unit featured HCAC Defensive Player of the Year Noah Hammond, who also earned All-Region and All-Conference recognition while setting the school record for sacks in a season. That same year, Mount St. Joseph led the conference in run defense, won the HCAC title, and reached the NCAA playoffs. In 2023, his defensive line continued to excel with three players earning All-HCAC recognition—Decklan Brophy (First Team), Jack Tucker (Second Team), and Brady Buller (Second Team)—as the Lions again captured the HCAC Championship and returned to the postseason. A native of Miamisburg, Ohio, Rich is a 2021 graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Rich earned a bachelor’s degree in Sport Administration with minors in Business Administration and Health Education.

Brandon Lemon enters his second season at Fairmont State as the Falcons' Offensive Coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach. At his most recent coaching stop at Utica University, Lemon served as the special teams coordinator, recruiting coordinator, cornerbacks Coach for the Pioneers. He was part of the coaching staff that led the Pioneers to a 9-2 record and winners of the ECAC Clayton Chapman Bowl over Hobart. Lemon coordinated a special teams unit that finished 5th nationally in blocked punts, 32nd nationally in kickoff returns, 37th nationally in punt returns average (individually) while among the conference’s leaders in punt return defense, blocked punts allowed and net punting. This unit was also recognized with multiple Empire 8 all-conference selections: Freddie Callo: 2nd Team All-Empire 8 (Punter), Peyton Ausfeld: 2nd Team All-Empire 8 (Return Specialist) and Joey Nare: 3rd Team All-Empire 8 (Return Specialist). Lemon served as the cornerbacks coach on a defense that finished ranked 6th nationally in team tackles for loss, 19th nationally in 4th down conversion % defense, 21st nationally in team sacks, 27th nationally in team passing efficiency defense, 37th nationally in passing yards allowed, 38th nationally in total defense along with being ranked amongst the top of the conference in scoring defense and passes intercepted. Lemon mentored 2nd Team Empire 8 All-Conference cornerback, Terrance Toussaint. Lemon joined Autry Denson’s coaching staff in 2021 as wide receivers coach for the Buccaneers before being promoted to pass game coordinator after the season. It was during that same time Lemon was named as an “Our Coaching Network WR Coach on the Rise” in 2022. In those two seasons, Charleston Southern’s offense ranked 17th nationally in red zone offense (2022) and 24th nationally in passing offense (2021). Lemon’s wide receiver core accounted for 366 receptions, 4,101 yards, 32 touchdowns. Under Lemon’s development Seth Anderson (transferred to Iowa) & Vinson Davis III (transferred to Southern Illinois) who had breakout freshman seasons and received the following recognition in 2022: Seth Anderson: Jerry Rice Award finalist, Stats Perform FCS Freshman All-American, Big South Offensive Freshman of the Year, 2nd Team Big South All-Conference. He started in 8 games and played in all 14 games for the Hawkeyes in 2023. Vinson Davis III: Jerry Rice Award semi-finalist, 2nd Team Big South All-Conference. He went on to earn Missouri Valley Conference honorable mention & All-Newcomer selection while starting 11 of their 13 games for the Salukis in 2023. In 2021, he also mentored 2nd Team Big South All-Conference wide receiver Cayden Jordan, National Player of the Week, Garris Schwarting who tied the Big South record for single game TD receptions with 4 and Geoffrey Wall, who was tied 3rd in Big South history with catches in a game with 14. Even in a short stint at Charleston Southern, Lemon recruited young men that made 23 starts and played in 66 games. Notably these following freshman made an impact for the Buccaneers in 2023: Noah Jennings: Named to Phil Steele Freshman All-American Team, led team in receiving, Chandler Perry: Finished 6th in solo tackles, 4th in tackles for loss, Andrew Threatt: Started in 6 games and Stephen Zayachkowsky: Finished 3rd in sacks. Before heading down south to take a position at Charleston Southern, Lemon served as the wide receivers coach at Lehigh University. During those two seasons, Lemon led a wide receiver group that represented 83% of the receiving production for the offense. In 2019, Devon Bibbens enjoyed a breakout senior season, leading the Mountain Hawks in receptions, yards and touchdowns and went on to earn first team All-Patriot League honors while slot receiver Jorge Portorreal earned a second team All-Patriot League selection. Lemon went on to recruit players that made 92 starts and played in 174 games for the Mountain Hawks. He recruited FCS Top 300 rankings by HERO Sports #20 ranked player, Donovan Thomas & #231 ranked player, LaTreil Wimberly, Two-time 2nd Team All-Patriot League selection and Eric Johnson, 4 year starter. Off the field, Lemon served as an co-chair on the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism (D.E.I.AR.) committee & an advisor for the Student Athletes of Color (SAOC) which was awarded by Lehigh University with the “Outstanding Educational Programming” & “Student Club/Organization Advisor of the Year” award. Lemon came to Bethlehem following two seasons at the University of Notre Dame, where he began as an offensive analyst working with the wide receivers before moving up to serve as the wide receiver graduate assistant. He assisted Del Alexander, Wide Receivers Coach with the development of three NFL draft picks and one undrafted wide receiver (Equanimeous St. Brown ’18, Miles Boykin ’19, Chase Claypool ’20, and Chris Finke ’20). He also assisted with recruiting efforts in the DMV, Houston, New England areas and all national wide receiver prospects. He assisted in the recruitment of Cam Hart (Class of 2019 signee), eventual captain, 2023 senior bowl participant. 247Sports ranked Notre Dame’s 2018 recruiting class 10th, 2019 recruiting class 16th and 2020 recruiting class 17th nationally. In his two seasons in South Bend, Notre Dame went 22-4. The Fighting Irish beat LSU in the Citrus Bowl to finish the 2017 season. During the 2018 season, Notre Dame finished the regular season with a 12-0 record, advancing to the college football playoff semifinals, losing to the eventual national champion Clemson Tigers. Head Coach, Brian Kelly was awarded with 2018 Home Depot Coach of the Year and AP College Football Coach of the Year honors. Prior to his stint at Notre Dame, Lemon spent the 2016 season as the wide receivers coach at the University of New Haven. At New Haven, Lemon mentored Ty Headen who finished his senior campaign with 56 receptions, 991 yards and 8 touchdowns leading to first team All-Northeast 10 honors. Headen departed UNH ranked second in school history in receptions and fourth in receiving yards. Notable recruits: Justin White, named second team All-Northeast 10 ‘17 and McPrecia Remy, named third team All-Northeast 10 ’18, Northeast 10 All-Rookie Team ‘17. Before moving on to New Haven, Lemon spent two seasons as a graduate assistant responsible for coaching the wide receivers at St. Lawrence University. In his two seasons in Canton, St. Lawrence went 16-5. In 2015, St. Lawrence set school records in nearly all passing categories which helped lead them to a share of the Liberty league title and a playoff appearance. Mark Raymond’s staff was awarded with Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year honors. Lemon began his college coaching career at Methodist University in Fayetteville, N.C. in 2013. He coached the cornerbacks and mentored a pair of all-conference performers in 1st Team, Tyler Mitchell and 2nd Team, D.J. Payne. Methodist finished with an 8-2 record and a share of the USA South conference title. The Methodist football coaching staff was selected to lead the North Team at the 2013 FCS Senior Scout Bowl in Myrtle Beach, S.C. In addition to his college experience, Lemon has spent time coaching with the U.S. National Team. Recently, he served as the Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach for the U-17 team who beat Team Mexico 51-7 in the 2020 International Bowl. As a student-athlete, Lemon was a four-year letter winner at Salisbury University in Maryland under coach Sherman Wood. As a senior, Salisbury advanced to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals. Lemon graduated from Salisbury in 2012 with a degree in sociology. A native of Aurora, Colorado, Lemon graduated from Arundel High School in Gambrills, Maryland in 2007. Lemon and his wife, Ali, have one daughter, McKenna, and a son, Bennett.  

Justice Lucas enters his second season here at Fairmont State as the Falcons' Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach. Coach Lucas comes to Fairmont State from Missouri State (FCS) where he was the defensive backs quality control. While at Missouri State, Lucas mentored FCS Freshman All-American defensive back Avery Powell and 2nd Team All Missouri Valley Conference defensive back Todric McGee. Todric McGee accumulated 101 total tackles and had 2 interceptions. Avery Powell tallied 50 total tackles and had 8 pass breakups. Prior to Missouri State, Lucas was the defensive backs coach for the University of Charleston. In 2022, Lucas helped guide a defense that finished 11th in all of Division II in turnovers gained. In 2021, Lucas worked as the spurs coach and helped a secondary that finished #1 in all of Division II in pass defense efficiency. Coach Lucas also was a graduate assistant coach at the University of Charleston in 2018 and 2019. During his graduate assistantship, Lucas worked with the safeties and handled all decoy signaling while also running the scout team. The Louisville, Kentucky native, Lucas graduated from the University of Charleston summa cum laude. He received his bachelor’s degree in Integrated Communication and his master’s degree in Strategic Leadership.  

Randy Wilkins enters his first season at Fairmont State as the Falcons' Run Game Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach. Wilkins previously served at West Virginia University as the Senior Defensive Assistant, Game Manager, and Pass Rush Specialist. He played a key roles in opponent scouting, defensive game planning, and game-day analytics, while also assisting with special teams units. Wilkins brings nearly 20 years of collegiate coaching experience, including 12 seasons as Defensive Line Coach and Academic Coordinator at Midwestern State, where he helped guide the Mustangs to five Lone Star Conference championships and five NCAA Division II playoff appearances. He also coached at Texas A&M-Commerce (2007–10), developing two All-Americans and three LSC North Defensive Linemen of the Year, and began his career as a graduate assistant at Troy (2005–07). A former defensive lineman at Florida State (1996–2000), Wilkins was part of the Seminoles’ 1999 BCS National Championship team and earned three varsity letters. He holds a bachelor’s degree from FSU and a master’s from Troy. Wilkins and his wife, Jessica, have a son, Christian.  

Andrew Weeks enters his second season here at Fairmont State as the Falcons' Offensive Line Coach and Academic Liaison. Coach Weeks comes to Fairmont State after serving the past two seasons as the tight ends and assistant offensive line coach at Mount St. Joseph University (DIII). In his two seasons with Mount St. Joseph, Weeks coached Tight End, Gary Powell to a 2nd Team All-Conference selection in 2022 and 2023. During this time, Mount St. Joseph University boasted a #1 rushing attack in the HCAC in consecutive seasons, averaging 227.5 YPG in the 2023 season. In addition, the Tight End room improved their receiving numbers during the 2023 season finishing with 26 receptions, 255 yards and 7 touchdowns. Weeks played football at Mount St. Joseph University from 2017-2021 and was a 2nd Team All-Conference offensive lineman. The West Union, Ohio native earned his bachelor’s degree in Sport Management and his master’s degree in Business Administration.  

Anders Leine enters his second season here at Fairmont State as the Falcons' Quarterbacks coach and Video Coordinator. Coach Leine comes to Fairmont State after coaching the tight ends and fullbacks the past two seasons at Northern State University (DII). While at Northern State, Coach Leine had great success developing a young group of tight ends and fullbacks. Over the two seasons in a run heavy offense, his room compiled 12 receptions for 93 yards and 5 touchdowns. They also helping lead the way for the Wolves rushing attack that averaged 148 yards per game in 2023. Prior to Northern State, Coach Leine started his coaching career as the tight ends coach at the University of Charleston. Coach Leine transitioned to this role after playing quarterback for four years at UC. Coach Leine has his bachelor’s degree in integrated communications from the University of Charleston and his master’s degree in Sports Performance and Leadership from Northern State University. Leine is originally from Lillehammer, Norway.  

Adam White enters his second season at Fairmont State as the Falcons' Director of Football Operations, Recruiting Coordinator and Tight Ends coach. In his time at Fairmont State, Adam helped streamline off the field operations and logistics, written grants to help acquire needed technology, and coached a First Team All-MEC Tight End. Adam is from Morgantown, West Virginia, and is an alumnus of Morgantown High School, West Virginia University, and the West Virginia University College of Law.  Before joining the coaching staff at Fairmont State Football, Adam was a practicing attorney in Columbus, Ohio, and was an assistant coach at University High School in Morgantown, West Virginia.