Lincoln University Men's Football

Moses Harper, a 16-year veteran with strong ties to central Missouri, was named as the head coach of the Lincoln football team in 2024. He is entering his third season as the head coach in 2026. In 2025, Harper led LU to its first 2-0 start since 1972 and coached Isaiah Tate and Jaylen Thomas to athlete of the week awards. During his tenure at Lincoln, Harper has coached 12 players who have earned All-GLVC recognition, including first team selections Clayton Winkler and Marcus Harris. Before coming to Lincoln, Harper spent two seasons at MIAA programs, serving as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at Nebraska Kearney in 2023 and the tight ends coach at Missouri Western in 2022. Harper, who also held the title of Director of Football Operations at both programs, developed Cam Grandy into a second team All-MIAA player at MWSU, and last fall coached two UNK receivers who finished among the top-25 in the league in both receptions and yards. Both of the position groups mentored by Harper additionally posted GPAs of 3.0 or higher, with two UNK players earned Academic All-American distinction.   Harper, led the Lincoln football team in its first season as a full member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference in 2024, also has experience coaching in the GLVC, as he served as the offensive line coach at William Jewell from 2019-21. He additionally held the titles of Camp Coordinator and Academic Achievement Coordinator with the Cardinals, and his players consistently posted a position group GPA higher than 3.0. WJC offensive linemen combined to receive six All-GLVC honors under his leadership.   From 2016-18 Harper was the associate head coach, offensive coordinator, quarterbacks and running backs coach and Director of Football Operations at Coahoma Community College in Mississippi, developing the first 1,000-yard rusher in program history. Prior to that, he spent four seasons coaching at Fort Scott Community College in Missouri, beginning as the recruiting and passing game coordinators before transitioning into the roles of offensive coordinator and assistant head coach. Harper, who additionally was the position coach for the quarterbacks and wide receivers, built an offense that led the Jayhawk Conference and finished ranked among the top-20 in the country.   Harper’s first coaching position was at Highland Community College, where he was the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. There he worked with Tay Glover-Wright, who went on to signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Falcons in 2014 and spent six seasons playing professionally.   A 2010 graduate of Central Methodist, Harper played both football and basketball for the Eagles. He earned all-conference honors at wide receiver and helped CMU’s basketball team win 28 games and reach the NAIA Division I Sweet 16. Harper also played professionally as a wide receiver with the Wichita Wild, a former Champions Professional Indoor Football League team.   Harper, who also holds an associate’s degree from North Central Missouri, and his wife, Roschana, have three children: Kaden, Elise and Moses III.   What Others are Saying About Coach Harper “Lincoln University football hit a home run with the hiring of Moses Harper as its new head coach! He will do a great job and I can’t wait to see the success he will have. The Blue Tigers are in great hands!” – Ryan Held, Head Coach at Nebraska-Kearney   “Lincoln University has hired a student of the game who is well-versed in recruiting around the country. Coach Harper will bring in top talent” – Johnnie Cole, Co-Host of HBCU Stroll and Founder of the Coaches Corner Podcast.   “Coach Harper is a consummate professional. He is a technician, a visionary, a motivator, and, most importantly, a family man. If you play for Coach Harper, you are a part of his family. He will treat his players like his own kids and will create an atmosphere of respect, dedication, trust, and pride for all.” – Alan Dykens, Director of Membership Development for The American Football Coaches Association   “For years, Moses Harper has been a hardworking and dedicated assistant college coach. He has built relationships in recruiting throughout the state and region. He is the right man to take over Lincoln’s program and lead them into a new conference.” – Carl Reed, Jr., College Football Analyst for 247 Sports.  

  CJ Horton joined the Lincoln football coaching staff in the spring of 2026 as a Graduate Assistant Coach and Video Coordinator. He oversees the tight ends and fullbacks. Horton is in his first year of coaching, but brings experience from nearly every level of college football. Horton began his collegiate playing career at Kansas State University before transferring to Iowa Western Community College. At Iowa Western, he was a two-time all-conference tight end and helped lead the Reivers to the 2022 NJCAA National Championship. Following his time at Iowa Western, Horton continued his career at Eastern Michigan University, where he played tight end for the Eagles during the 2023 season. He concluded his collegiate career at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, earning All-MIAA honors. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Horton is pursuing a Master's Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management at Lincoln University. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and his associate's degree from Iowa Western Community College.  

Tony Gilbert enters his first season as the defensive coordinator of the Lincoln University football program. Beginning in the spring of 2026, Gilbert installed a hard-nose style of defense that will assist the Blue Tiger defense as it competes in the GLVC. Gilbert has experience at the Division I and Division II levels dating back to his first coaching stint at Missouri State as a graduate assistant in 1990-1991. Prior to joining the Blue Tigers, Gilbert coached at Chowan, leading the Chowan defense to a total of 658 tackles in 2024. The Hawks recorded 47 tackles for loss, totaling 138 yards. Kennypride Toh recorded 88 tackles on the season and received second team All-GSC recognition for his efforts. Gilbert also coached two players who were named to the 2024 All-GSC Academic Team. During the 2025 season, the Hawks recorded 10 interceptions and 20 pass break-ups while producing five defensive all-conference players, including First Team honoree Antwone Godley. Gilbert spent five seasons as the defensive coordinator at Mississippi College and, in 2019, assisted the Choctaws to their first five-win season since transitioning back to NCAA Division II status from NCAA Division III in 2009.  He had a two-year stint as the cornerbacks coach at Stephen F. Austin and coached cornerback Aretavious Hendrix, an All-Southland Conference honorable mention selection. Prior to his time at SFA, Gilbert served three seasons as the cornerbacks coach and special teams coordinator at Eastern Illinois (2014-16) and spent one year as the defensive backs coach in his second stint at Southern Arkansas (2013). He also was the defensive backs coach at Louisiana-Monroe for two years (2011-12) .   Before he was at ULM, Gilbert spent nine seasons as the defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Arkansas State University. While there, Gilbert coached five players who went on to sign NFL contracts. Gilbert spent two seasons (2001-02) at Central Arkansas before heading to Arkansas State, serving as the Bears' assistant head coach and leading UCA's wide receiving corps. Gilbert helped the Bears rank among the top-10 nationally in both passing offense and total defense while leading UCA to its first-ever NCAA Division II playoff appearance in 2001. Gilbert also enjoyed tremendous success during his first stint at Southern Arkansas, coaching the defensive backs when SAU won the 1997 Gulf South Championship. Gilbert's was later elevated to the position of defensive coordinator, where he helped SAU achieve a three-year record 27-5.  From 1992-96, Gilbert worked at Southeast Missouri, coaching the RedHawks' running backs. Gilbert's first coaching experience came at his alma mater, Missouri State, where he worked with the running back group as a graduate assistant for two seasons.   A four-year letter winner at running back for Missouri State, Gilbert earned his bachelor's degree in 1989, followed by his master's degree in 1991. Following his collegiate career, Gilbert signed a free agent contract with the New York Giants in the summer of 1991.  

Calvin Powell joined the Lincoln football team in 2025. He is in his second season on the Blue Tiger staff and his first in the roles of co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Powell previously served as the tight ends coach. Powell has spent 17 years coaching football, most recently serving as the head coach at NCAA Division III Maine Maritime Academy. He also was twice on the coaching staff at Langston University. During Powell's second stint, he was the assistant head coach and helped the Lions rank fifth in the nation in rushing and 12th in points per game while working with the offensive line. In his first stint at Langston from 2010-12, Powell coached the program's all-time leading rusher and helped the Lions to a share of the Sooner Athletic Conference championship as well as the No. 23 national ranking. Between his two stints at Langston, Powell coached 10 players who earned postseason recognition. Prior to joining the staff at Langston, Powell was the offensive line coach and academic coordinator at Lyon College, where he coached six all-conference honorees as well as three Daktronics NAIA Scholar Athletes. He additionally helped start the football program at Texas Wesleyan and had stints working at SUNY Maritime, Northeastern Oklahoma University, and at two high schools: Green Hill and St. Michael's Catholic. In his first collegiate coaching role, Powell worked as a graduate offensive assistant at Temple University, helping lead the Owls to an appearance in the Boca Raton Bowl. Powell helped Temple achieve its first-ever 10-win season and earn a berth in the inaugural American Athletic Conference championship game. Five players coached by Powell signed NFL contracts while another signed with a CFL program. Powell holds a bachelor's degree in sports management from Southwestern College and a master's degree in educational leadership from Langston University.  

Kory Vaught is in his third season with the Lincoln football team. He joined the program as the linebackers coach, and was given the additional title of special teams coordinator in 2025. Before coming to Lincoln, Vaught spent four seasons at Ellsworth Community College. He started as the program's defensive coordinator before being elevated to head coach in 2022. From 2017-19, Vaught was the running backs and linebacker coach at Highland Community College. He also worked as an assistant coach for the Arizona Rattlers, an Indoor Football League program, in 2017. From 2013-16, Vaught served as the running backs coach and special teams coordinator at Fort Scott Community College. Vaught broke into the coaching ranks as a student assistant at Friends University, where he also played for two seasons.  Vaught earned a bachelor's degree in health and physical education from Friends University in 2013 and also holds an associate's degree from Rock Valley Community College. He lives in Jefferson City with his girlfriend, Maria Ingram, and three children: Kory Jr., Lijah Ingram and Leonidas Vaught.  

Kevin Bergsmith joined the Lincoln football team as an assistant coach in 2025 and is in his third season with the program. Bergsmith coaches the wide receivers and serves as LU's recruiting coordinator. During his first season at Lincoln, Bergsmith coached Marcus Harris, who finished fourth in the conference and in the top-40 in the country with 791 receiving yards. After the 2025 campaign, Harris was named to the All-GLVC first team. Bergsmith came to Lincoln after working a Reel Analytics, where he used artificial intelligence to track and analyze the performance of small school college draft and transfer prospects. Bergsmith also spent two years working as a video scout for Sports Info Solutions. In that capacity, he charted the performances of NCAA Division I and NFL players. He additionally worked for two years collecting data on potential recruits as a scout for Collegiate Sports Data. In 2011, Bergsmith broke into the coaching ranks as a player personnel intern for the Arizona Rattlers. He later worked at Florida State, helping the program achieve back-to-back top-five recruiting classes and win a national championship. Bergsmith also worked at NCAA Division I Northwestern State as a wide receivers and special teams coach. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in sports management in 2011 and earned a master's degree from Florida State University in sports management in 2014. Bergsmith lives with his girlfriend, Jenna Davidson, and their daughter, Claire.  

Steven Miller was named the defensive coordinator for the Lincoln football team in the spring of 2024 and begins his third season with the Blue Tigers in 2026. Miller, who has mostly been coaching in the college ranks since 1994, joins Lincoln after serving as the defensive coordinator at Mississippi Delta Community College the past two years. Miller worked at Mississippi Valley State, an NCAA Division I institution, as the defensive line coach from 2020-21. He also briefly was the head coach of the Pella Knights, a semi-pro program. From 2016-20, Miller was the head coach at Coahoma Community College, where he developed seven first team all-conference selections; three second team all-league honorees; two All-Americans; and two players who were drafted by NFL teams in Davion Taylor (Philadelphia Eagles) and Christopher Claybrooks (Jacksonville Jaguars). Prior to taking over at Coahoma, Miller spent eight years working for NAIA programs: Tabor College, where he was the defensive coordinator, and William Penn University, where he was the defensive line coach. Miller broke into coaching by serving as a student assistant coach at NCAA Division I Northwestern State from 1994-95 and worked as a graduate assistant coach at Division II Arkansas Tech from 1997-98. From 1999-2006, Miller was the assistant head coach at Olive Branch High School in Mississippi. He has also been the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Itawamba High School and the special teams coordinator at Northwest Mississippi Community College. In 1995, Miller earned a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in physical education from Northwestern State, and he also has a master's degree in business leadership from William Penn.