Florida Institute of Technology Men's Football

Englehart has steered FIT to an 18-16 overall record, including a 9-11 record in Gulf South Conference action. The program's third season was unquestionably its most successful, coming within one game of a conference championships and a postseason bid with a 7-4 record. The Panthers registered a pair of monumental wins during the campaign, becoming the first team to defeat then No. 5 Delta State on its home turf in over three years and knocking off the nation's No. 1 ranked team in West Georgia on Senior Day at Florida Tech Panther Stadium. In 2014, Englehart's Panthers surprised and shook up the college football world. FIT notched its first-ever win over a ranked opponent with a thrilling 37-31 victory over No. 12 Tarleton State at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the home venue of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. The following week the Panthers returned to the Sunshine State and narrowly dropped a game at Division I opponent Bethune Cookman after failing to convert a two-point attempt at the end of the game. The program tallied another first later in the year, garnering its first GSC road win with a dramatic 33-32 win at West Alabama. FIT finished the year with a 6-5 overall record and a 3-4 mark in the GSC. Englehart led Florida Tech Football to a 5-7 record in the program's inaugural season in fall 2013. The Panthers' victories included their inaugural game against Stetson, a Gulf South Conference win versus Shorter, a Homecoming triumph over Warner, their last regular season game against Webber International and a victory in the first-ever Eastern College Athletic Conference Division II Futures Bowl over Alderson Broaddus. Since he arrived at Florida Tech in 2011, he has built the program from the ground up. With the help of his staff, he has recruited over 110 new student-athletes, fundraised for the new Varsity Training Center, been heavily involved with the Brevard County community and traveled throughout the state of Florida to promote Florida Tech Football. Prior to settling in Melbourne, Englehart was the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Indiana State University, in 2010. His unit set program records, scoring 351 points and 48 touchdowns, and averaged the 17th-most yards in the Football Championship Subdivision at 411.8 yards per game. Running back Darrius Gates excelled under Englehart as he averaged 10.6 points per game, which led the Missouri Valley Conference and was second at the FCS level. Englehart also coached for four years at NCAA Division III Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. At the time of his hiring, Englehart was the second youngest head coach in all of NCAA football at 28 years old. He guided the Fightin Engineers to a 26-14 record. His .650 winning percentage is still the best in program history. During his last three years at Rose-Hulman, his players combined for 30 All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference awards. Englehart also coached quarterback Derek Eitel who graduated with every major career passing record, and was named HCAC Player of the Year in 2009. Englehart played quarterback at Indiana State from 1996-99 where he ran the triple option. He earned letters in 97, 98, and 99. He was named to the Gateway Football Conferences All-Academic Team in 1998 and 1999, was named a GTE Scholar Athlete three times, and earned Sycamore Honor Athlete recognition for four seasons. Englehart and his wife, Carrie, reside in Melbourne and have three children, Caden, Ty, and Lila.

Smith's tutelage, converted linebacker J.J. Sanders became the Gulf South Conference's Defensive Player of the Year after his first and only year as a defensive end. Sanders was also joined by defensive tackle Skylar Sheffield in being named All-GSC and All-Super Region 2. A 33-year veteran of the coaching profession, Smith last coached the defensive line at Michigan in 2014. He spent four seasons in Ann Arbor, Michigan, heading the linebacker unit the first three seasons. Smiths unit produced two of the Wolverines top three leading tacklers in 2013 in James Ross III (85 tackles) and Desmond Morgan (79 tackles) and the teams top three tackles leaders in 2012. The 2012 group was led by All-Big Ten second team linebacker Jake Ryans 88 tackles, 16.0 stops for loss, 4.5 sacks and four forced fumbles, while Kenny Demens had 82 tackles, including six tackles for loss. Morgan had 81 stops, 5.5 for loss. The linebacking corps in 2012 helped U-M limit opponents to 19.8 points per game, fourth in the Big Ten and 20th nationally, and 320.0 total yards per game, second in the conference and 13th in the country. In 2011, Smiths group helped the Wolverines to an 11-2 record and a Sugar Bowl victory. U-Ms defense ranked second in the Big Ten and sixth in the FBS in scoring defense, surrendering only 17.4 points per game. The Wolverines defense also ranked third in the conference in rushing defense (131.7 yards per game), fourth in total yards per game (322.2) and fifth in passing defense (190.5 ypg). The linebackers also contributed to a conference best 29 turnovers forced and an FBS-best 20 fumbles recovered. Prior to moving to the Big Ten, Smith was the linebackers coach on Brady Hokes staff at San Diego State for six years. Before that, he was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Ball State from 2003-08. In his career, he has also made stops at Indiana State, Rose-Hulman, Bowling Green and Defiance High School in Ohio.

Tillman Defensive Backs Coach Position Responsibility: Defensive Backs Willie Tillman concluded his third season as the defensive coordinator for the Panthers in spring 2016. He has been part of the program since being hired by head coach Steve Englehart on Jan. 20, 2012. FIT saw a marked improvement from its defense in 2015, ranking third in the Gulf South Conference in both scoring defense and total yards allowed per game. The Panthers boasted the conference's defensive player of the year in J.J. Sanders, while placing six players on the All-GSC team in Sanders, Manny Abad, Leo Alba II, Trai Cadore, Skylar Sheffield and Chris Stapleton. Abad and Sanders were named CCA All-Super Region 2, while Sheffield and Stapleton joined the duo as Don Hansen All-Super Region 2 honorees. In 2014, the Panther defense boasted three All-Gulf South Conference honorees in Sanders and Stapleton as well as Abad. Sanders led the conference in tackles per game (8.4), tackles for loss (17.5) and forced fumbles (4) despite missing the Panthers first two games of the season. Stapleton led the GSC in total tackles with 90, including 52 solo stops, while Abad was the conference leader in pass breakups with nine and passes defended with 12. He came to Florida Tech after spending time at NAIA Bethel University, in McKenzie, Tenn. he was an associate head coach and the defensive coordinator for the Wildcats. Tillman also had a separate four-season stint at Bethel when he served as a defensive backs coach, defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator. His 2006 Bethel defense led the conference, and was top-20 in the nation in scoring defense only giving up 14.6 points per game. Prior to his second stint at Bethel, Tillman was the defensive coordinator at Merritt Island High School. He has also coached at Purdue (2001), with the Baltimore Ravens (2003), at Florida A&M (2007) and Murrary State (2008). He played collegiately at Purdue from 1994-97, where he was a two-year starter and four-year letter winner for the Boilermakers. Tillman graduated from Purdue in 1997 with a bachelors degree in African American studies.

Daneshgar works closely with head coach Steve Englehart and the coaching staff to ensure the day-to-day operation of the department. His responsibilities include quality control, coordinating practice schedules, team meals, travel arrangements, equipment and video. Additionally, he assists with the coordination of the programs camps and facilities. He also serves a liaison for FITs Compliance and Athletics Communications departments.   Daneshgar first arrived at Florida Tech in 2011 as an intern for Athletics Director Bill Jurgens. During his internship he assisted in all facets of the Florida Tech athletics department including operations, fundraising and athletic communications.   A native of Seminole, Florida, Daneshgar graduated from the University of Florida in 2011 with a Bachelors of Science in Sport Management.

Raymond joined Florida Techs staff on March 20, 2013 and is in his seventh season as a football coach. Under Raymond, the Panthers boasted arquably the Gulf South Conference's top running back and tight end in Trevor Sand and Gabe Hughes. Sand was a First Team All-GSC selection after leading the league in rushing with 1,105 yards, while also recording nine touchdowns. Sand averaged 6.4 yards per carry and was the only conference player to average triple digits in rushing, registering an average of 100.5 yards per game. Hughes was named First Team All-Super Region 2 as well as earning first team all-conference honors after ranking second on the team in receiving yards, tallying 492 yards on 23 catches. The tight end hauled in six touchdowns in 2014, including the last second game-winner against West Alabama and an 80-yard catch and run against Valdosta State. The Austin, Texas native comes to Melbourne after serving as the tight ends coach for the University of Texas at El Paso for one season. Prior to his year at UTEP, Raymond was the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at New Mexico Highlands in 2011, where his recruiting areas were Central, East and West Texas, as well as Houston and Northern California junior colleges. Raymond spent three seasons with the Miners as a program coordinator graduate assistant from 2008-10, working primarily with the offensive line under UTEP head coach Mike Price. In 2012, he joined his alma mater, Tarleton State University, where he worked with the offensive line before rejoining UTEP before the 2012 season. Raymond played tight end at Cisco Junior College and Tarleton State University, where he earned a bachelors in business administration in 2006. Following his graduation, he spent a year as a graduate assistant and tight ends coach at Midwestern State in 2007. He was involved with all facets of football operations, including assisting with recruiting, coaches films and camps.

Sabock's time at FIT, the Panthers have become specialists at getting to opposing kickers. FIT has recorded 10 total blocked kicks in its three years of football competition, including four from special teams dynamo Jake Holsinger. Prior to arriving at FIT, Sabock coached at Indiana State University with Panthers head coach Steve Englehart. Sabock was the Sycamores outside linebackers coach in 2011. Dan Sabock is a high energy coach that will bring even more passion to our already passionate staff, Englehart said. He knows what it takes to be a great college coach and works extremely hard to be successful.  He has grown up around football as a coachs son, so he knows what this profession is all about. Dan has a great knowledge of the special teams and linebackers and will prove to be a great recruiter. During Sabocks one season with Indiana State, three of his linebackers were named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference Team: Aaron Archie, Jacolby Washington and Ryan Roberts. Archie tied for 12th in NCAA Division I-AA with 122 tackles in 2011. His counterpart Washington was right behind him with 120 stops. Im excited to be at Florida Tech for several reasons, Sabock said. Its a school thats just starting a football program. Everything we do is going to be built from the ground up, with our touch. The program has a phenomenal leader in Coach Englehart, whos going to do everything the right way, the first-class way. Im excited to work with such a great guy and an energetic guy. Sabock worked in player development for Rutgers University in 2010. He also worked with the secondary and defense.  He played football and graduated from Elmhurst College. He comes from a football family. His father, Mike Sabock, was a graduate assistant at Penn State in 1983. He then coached for 24 seasons at Northern Illinois University before retiring after four seasons at Western Michigan University. His mom, Sandy Sabock, serves on the board of directors of the American Football Coaches Wives Association (AFCWA). His brother, Kevin Sabock, is a graduate assistant at N.C. State. I pride myself on being the most energetic, upbeat, positive person around, he said. I want to make the people around me happier and better. If a kid scores, Ill be the first one in the end zone high-fiving him and coaching with a ton of energy. I thoroughly enjoy the recruiting process and working with families to help them make the right decision for their son, which is why I am coaching at the college level.