Frostburg State University Men's Football

Eric Wagoner enters his third season as head coach of the Football program in the 2024 season. In 2023, FSU finished with a record of 7-3, including a 6-3 mark in MEC play that was good enough to tie for second place in the conference. The Bobcats finished as a top defensive team, allowing just 275.5 yards per game, 21 total touchdowns and 17 points per game, all the best in the MEC and top-20 marks in all of Division II.    Under his direction, 13 total players earned All-MEC honors, including the Defensive Freshman of the Year in Darrell Scott and four First Team members(Brandon Dillard - OL, Colby Street - LB, Leonard Scott - DL, and Wylan Harich - DB). FSU also excelled in the classroom, as eight players were named College Sport Communicators Academic All-District, 14 received Academic All-MEC honors, and a further 32 earned a spot on the Commissioner's Honor Roll.  During his first season at the helm, Frostburg went 8-3 overall, including a 7-3 record in MEC play that put them third in the conference. FSU was the second-best defensive team, allowing 316.6 yards per game, 23 total touchdowns, and 16.4 points per game. The Bobcat rushing defense was particularly impressive, allowing just 105 yards per game on the ground, a full 20 yards per game better than the next-best team.  A pair of Frostburg players received All-American honors in kicker Dayne Koontz and OL Gottlieb Ayedze, while the former was also named a College Sport Communicators Academic All-American. Joining them in receiving First Team All-MEC honors were DE Luke Freeman, LB Dylan Culpen, and DB Wylan Harich, all part of 14 total All-MEC honorees.  Prior to taking over as head coach, Wagoner had spent two seasons as the Bobcats' Defensive Coordinator, during which the team went 13-2 across the Spring 2021 and Fall '21 seasons. FSU was the second-best defense by yards per game allowed (294.2) and points per game (16.4), while being the top-ranked rushing defense at just 84.4 yards per game allowed.  Wagoner came to Frostburg after serving on the coaching staff at the University of Saint Francis in Indiana for the last 12 years, having been the program's DC for seven seasons. He helped the Cougars win NAIA National Championships in 2016 & 2017 and he was named the 2016 Football Scoop NAIA Coordinator of the Year.   In 2016, his defensive squad finished second in the country in scoring (18.4) and second in rushing defense (101.0 ypg). In '17, his Cougar defensive squad led the nation in scoring defense (17.2) and finished first in both total defense (298.0) and rushing defense (92.0). In 2018, he helped the defense to second in NAIA in rushing defense (99.6).   Wagoner also served as the Cougars' special team's coordinator and his unit led the Mid State Football Association in kick returns five times in a seven-year stretch. Those return groups also returned eight kicks for TDs. Under his tutelage, 33 players have earned all-conference honors, including 23 first-team honorees. He also coached three AFCA All-Americans and the 2016 Mid State Football Association Defensive Player of the Year. Since 2008, Saint Francis has made 10 NAIA playoff appearances with 15 wins and the Cougars won five Mid State Football Association Championships. During that same stretch, Saint Francis has won 116 games against just 27 losses.   Wagoner is a graduate of Saint Francis and was a four-year letter winner for the Cougar football team. He helped the team to a 51-4 overall record with four league championships, four playoff appearances and three national championship game appearances. He earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Saint Francis in 2007 and he earned his master's in business administration in 2011.   2025 11-3 Overall, 7-1 MEC NCAA Tournament Quarterfinal Appearance | MEC Co-Champions 2024 6-5 Overall, 4-5 MEC T-4th Place in MEC 2023 7-3 Overall, 6-3 MEC T-2nd Place in MEC 2022 8-3 Overall, 7-3 3rd Place in MEC

Calcutta rejoins the Bobcats having most previously worked at Averett University as the Defensive Line Coach from 2023-2025.  In 2023, he coached the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Jahlin Russel, who was named First Team All-Conference All-Region as a defensive end.  Calcutta saw two All-Conference selections during his time at Averett, both being on the defensive line.     During 2020-2022, Calcutta worked in a private business, after using his football expertise at Mountain Ridge High School from 2010-2019, starting out as the Defensive Line/Special Teams Coordinator before serving as the Defensive Coordinator for his final three years.    From 2006-2009, Calcutta was a tremendous asset to Frostburg's football staff under Head Coaches Rubin Stevenson and Tom Rogish.  Calcutta served as the Defensive Coordinator/Special Teams Coordinator, leading the defense in 2008 to the most interceptions (16) and turnover margin (+6) in the Atlantic Central Football Conference.  He coached a total of 14 All-Conference selections on the defensive side of the ball, while his kickoff return team ranked #1 in the AFCA with 29.3 yards per return.    Prior to his previous time at FSU, Calcutta spent 2003-2005 as the Defensive Line Coach at PSAC foe Clarion, where the defense led the conference in total TFL's all three years, registering over 100 each season.  He coached three All-Conference players during his three year stint with the Golden Eagles, as defensive end Bennie Heisel received Second Team All-American honors in Calcutta's final year.  In 2002, Calcutta spent the year at Norfolk State as the Running Backs/Special Teams Coordinator, after spending 13 seasons as the Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator at South Carolina State University.  From 1989-2001, he worked under the legendary Willie Jefferies, helping the team to three Heritage Bowl appearances in five years.  In 2001, SCSU's defense finished second in the MEAC in total defense, giving up just 318 yards a game, and pass defense, giving up just 217 yards in the air per game.  All three of Calcutta's linebackers were First Team All-Conference members to finish out the 2001 season.  Calcutta earned time as the Running Backs Coach from 1993-1999, coaching Michael Hicks and Kenny Bynum to back-to-back MEAC Offensive Player of the Year titles in 1995 and 1996.   In 1994, the Bulldogs ranked first in the FCS in total offense, rushing offense, and scoring offense, having captured the MEAC Championship, as well as being named the National Black College Champions of the Post Season Heritage Bowl.    Calcutta's coaching career started at Howard University from 1987-1988, where he served as a graduate assistant that helped with Tight Ends/Wide Receivers.  In 1987, the Bison were crowned ESBN Black College National Champions.    Throughout his coaching career, Calcutta has coached numerous athletes that have seen time in the NFL, including Hicks and Bynum, along with Freddie Solomon, Stanley Stephens, Jimmie Johnson, Troy Kyles, Robert Porcher, Chartric Dorby, and Anthony Cook.    Calcutta earned his Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Saint Joseph's College (Ind.) in 1987.  Calcutta and his wife, Kim have two sons, Anthony, who is the Director of Recruiting Strategies for the football program at Washington State University, and Michael, who is a senior at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, participating in the PGA Golf Management Program. 

Matt Puffenberger is entering his third season as an assistant coach with the Frostburg State football coaching staff and he will be working with the wide receivers this fall after coaching the safeties in 2019.   A year ago, FSU finished third in the MEC in passing defense (200.1) and fourth with 13 interceptions. The Bobcats also broke-up 34 passes. In '19, the Bobcats finished 39th in the country in total defense (287.9), 14th in passing yards allowed (150.5) and 12th in passing yards per completion (15.78). The Bobcats also intercepted 12 passes and broke up another 25 passes.   Puffenberger came to the Bobcat program after coaching at Berkeley Springs High School in nearby Berkeley Springs, W.Va. since 2001.   Over the last five seasons, Puffenberger served as the head coach of the Indians after serving as the assistant head coach, defensive coordinator, quarterbacks and wide receivers coach from 2001-12.   Last fall, Puffenberger was named the Potomac Valley Conference Coach of the Year after guiding Berkeley to a 6-4 record, the 13th most wins in a single season in school history. The Indians scored the third most points in a single season in ’17 and Puffenberger increased the program’s win total each of his five seasons.   Puffenberger earned his bachelor’s degree from Frostburg in health and physical education in 2001.

Derek Prather joins the FSU staff for the first time in the 2022 season. Prather comes to FSU by way of Division III Trine University where he most recently served as the defensive line coach beginning in 2021. Prather also worked with TU from 2012 to 2017 serving in roles as defensive line coordinator and special teams coordinator.  Outside of Trine, Prather began his coaching career with Stanford University in 2011, entering as an assistant sports performance coach. He would briefly take a role as the defensive line coach at Doane University from 2011 to 2012 before beginning his stint at Trine. Following his departure from TU, Prather would take up a role as special teams quality control at Murray State University from 2017 to 2018 and then move to the University of Saint Francis (IN) as defensive line coach from 2018 until 2020.

Trevor Miller joins the football staff for the first time in the 2022 season.  Miller comes to Frostburg State after 14 years with the University of Saint Francis (IN) in the NAIA ranks. In his time at Saint Francis (IN), Miller rose through the ranks working with essentially every portion of the offense. He began work in 2006 with the offensive line for two seasons and was quickly promoted to run game coordinator in 2008. Miller would continue in that role until 2013, when he would be elevated to co-offensive coordinator where he would remain until 2020. While working on the offense, Miller would continue to retain duties working with the offensive line and running backs.  In his time with the Cougars the program would become two-time National Champions in 2016 and 2017, earned six Mid State Conference Titles and garnered seven All-American selections on the offensive side of the ball.

Eric Rhodes joins the football coaching staff in 2022 for his first season. Rhodes comes to FSU by way of Division I-FCS Grambling State University, where most recently he served as the cornerbacks coach since June of 2021. He also helped with the return game, serving as the kick and punt returners coach. Under his guidance, GSU posted numbers in the top 10 for tackles for loss, defensive touchdowns, and fumble recoveries. They also had numbers in the top 15 for blocked kicks, passes defended and were top 20 in takeaways.     Prior to GSU, Rhodes made stops at Division II Chowan University as Co-Defensive Coordinator from 2019-2021. Before that role, he was a defensive backs coach for CU from 2017-2018. He would get his college coaching start with Grambling State as a Graduate Assistant with the cornerback unit from 2015-2016. 

Ken Emmons rejoins Frostburg’s Football staff after spending 5 seasons (2019-2023) at Stevenson University, where he was the Wide Receivers Coach and Special Teams Coordinator. Emmons spent three seasons (2016-2018) on staff at his alma mater, Frostburg State, working with wide receivers in each of his final two seasons after coaching the linebackers in 2016, while also assisting with special teams.    The Bobcats compiled a 31-4 record during Emmons' three years on the sideline, including an NCAA quarterfinal appearance in 2017 and an NJAC conference championship before returning to the Tournament in 2018. During the season, FSU's offense averaged 40.7 points per game, good for first in the conference and No. 20 nationally.   Prior to coaching, Emmons was a three-year starter for the Bobcats and a four-year member of the team from 2011-2014. He finished his career with 4,045 passing yards and 24 touchdowns, both good enough for eighth all-time in program history. On the ground, he added nearly 1,000 rushing yards with another 13 touchdowns. Emmons earned his bachelor's degree from Frostburg in 2016 and went on to earn his Master's in Interdisciplinary Education in 2019.