North Carolina Central University Men's Football

Dr. Thomas Stallworth II is entering his first season as the head strength and conditioning coach for the North Carolina Central University football program. Stallworth comes to Durham with plenty of experience in both the collegiate and professional ranks. He returns to college football after two years of being a physical education teacher at Mountain View High School and Kanoheda Elementary School, both in Lawrenceville, Ga. In 2018, Stallworth’s career took him to the NFL, when he joined the New York Giants as a strength and conditioning coach. He was then the Atlanta Falcons’ head strength and conditioning coach from 2021 through the 2024 season. His coaching career began at South Carolina State, where Stallworth served as head strength and conditioning coach from 2004-08. From there, he served in the same capacity at Grambling State, before being named associate strength and conditioning coach at Mississippi State. Stallworth’s collegiate coaching career also includes stops at N.C. State, Texas Tech, Fresno State and Western Kentucky. Stallworth was a linebacker at the University of Tennessee from 1997-2001, and he was a member of the Volunteers’ 1998 national championship team. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Tennessee, and he earned a doctorate in sport and performance psychology from University of Arizona Global Campus in 2021.

Decorated alum Trei Oliver returned to North Carolina Central University to serve as the program’s 24th head football coach on Dec. 13, 2018.   Oliver has led the Eagles to a 37-21 record in five seasons at the helm. They won a share of the 2022 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) title before defeating No. 5 Jackson State in the Cricket Celebration Bowl for the HBCU national championship, and NCCU has gone 4-1 in MEAC play in each of the last four seasons.   NCCU finished the 2022 season ranked No. 17 in the AFCA Coaches Poll, the program’s highest national ranking at the FCS level. The Eagles won 10 games that season, for just the third time in program history, and they boasted seven First Team All-MEAC honorees – including two-time MEAC Offensive Player of the Year Davius Richard, 2022 Offensive Lineman of the Year Robert Mitchell and 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Baker. In addition to the overtime victory over Jackson State, that season saw the Eagles rack up non-conference wins against No. 25 New Hampshire, Tennessee Tech and rival North Carolina A&T State.   Oliver was named MEAC Coach of the Year that season.   Richard repeated as Offensive Player of the Year in 2023, as the Eagles went 9-3 overall and once again were in the thick of the conference race. Oliver was again named MEAC Coach of the Year, after the Eagles made their first-ever appearance in the FCS Playoffs and ended the season ranked 20th in the FCS poll. The 2024 season saw the Eagles go 8-3 overall and 4-1 yet again in MEAC play, coming in second in the league standings. The campaign featured non-conference wins over rival North Carolina A&T, Campbell and Alabama State. Six Eagles earned First Team All-MEAC honors, including running back J/Mari Taylor and punter Juan Velarde. NCCU has a 19-9 conference record in five seasons under Oliver. Prior to returning to Durham, Oliver spent three seasons as defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Southern University. In his last season, the Jaguars won the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) West Division championship and earned a spot in the conference title game.   From 2011-15, Oliver was outside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at North Carolina A&T State. The Aggies shared the MEAC crown in 2014 and 2015 and were the Black college national champions in 2015 after winning the inaugural Celebration Bowl.   Oliver was outside linebackers coach, recruiting coordinator and special teams coordinator at Grambling State University from 2007-10, helping the Tigers win two SWAC West Division championships and the 2008 SWAC championship game.   Oliver’s first coaching stint in Durham came from 2003-06, when he served as defensive backs and wide receivers coach, as well as recruiting coordinator and special teams coordinator. The Eagles won back-to-back Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championships in 2005 and 2006.   2006 also saw NCCU go 11-1 and earn the Black college national title.   Oliver, a Yorktown, Va., native, earned all-conference and all-region honors as a defensive back and punter in his four-year playing career (1994-97). He led the CIAA in punting twice (including a 41.7 average in 1997, fifth-best in program history). As a junior in 1996, he was part of an Eagles defensive backfield that led all of NCAA Div. II in pass defense efficiency.   Among NCCU’s career leaders, Oliver sits fourth all-time in punting average (39.3), 12th with 31 passes defended (24 break-ups, seven interceptions) and 13th in tackles with 234 (126 solo). He was named either first or second team All-CIAA in each of his four seasons.   Oliver earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from NCCU in 1998, and he later earned a master’s degree in criminal justice from Grambling State in 2010.   The maroon and gray run in the Oliver family; both his parents, Colon and Evelyn Oliver, are Eagle graduates, as is his wife, Yvette. Colon also played football for the Eagles, as wide receiver from 1963-66.     THE TREI OLIVER FILE Season                                   Overall                        MEAC                                                 W-L                             W-L 2019                                        4-8                               3-5 2021                                        6-5                               4-1 2022                                        10-2                             4-1 2023                                        9-3                               4-1 2024                                        8-3                                4-1 Total                                        37-21                           19-9   NOTE: There was no season in 2020 (COVID-19)   Education: North Carolina Central University, 1998, bachelor’s degree in physical education Grambling State University, 2010, master’s degree in criminal justice   Collegiate Playing Experience: North Carolina Central University, defensive back and punter (1994-97) -  1997: First Team All-CIAA (punter), Second Team All-CIAA (defensive back), First Team All-Region (defensive back), Second Team All-Region (punter) -  1996: Second Team All-CIAA (punter) -  1995: First Team All-CIAA (punter) -  1994: Second Team All-CIAA (punter), All-CIAA Rookie Team   Coaching Experience: - Delaware State University, assistant coach (defensive backs/assistant special teams coordinator), 1999-2002 - North Carolina Central University, assistant coach (defensive backs/wide receivers/recruiting coordinator/special teams coordinator), 2003-06 - Grambling State University, assistant coach (outside linebackers/recruiting coordinator/special teams coordinator), 2007-10 - North Carolina A&T State University, assistant coach (outside linebackers/recruiting coordinator), 2011-15 - Southern University, assistant coach (safeties, defensive coordinator), 2016-18 - North Carolina Central University, head coach, 2019-current Head Coaching Awards: 2022 MEAC Football Coach of the Year 2023 MEAC Football Coach of the Year   Personal: Born June 9, 1976, in Yorktown, Virginia. Parents are Colon and Evelyn Oliver, both NCCU graduates. Father played football as a wide receiver at NCCU from 1963-66. Married to Yvette Oliver, an NCCU graduate. Parents of son, Reggie.   EAGLE NOTE: Oliver is the third NCCU alum to lead the football program. 1963 graduate Bishop Harris served as head coach in Durham from 1991-92, and 1933 graduate Herman Riddick led the Eagles to a program-record 112 wins from 1945-64.

Charles Bankins is in his first season with the North Carolina Central University football program, serving as running backs coach. He brings a wealth of collegiate coaching experience to the Eagles, having previously served in the same capacity for North Carolina A&T State. He has also served as a special teams coach or coordinator since 2005 at various schools like Charlotte, Old Dominion, Vanderbilt, Maryland, Richmond, Hampton, and with the NFL's St. Louis Rams. Before leaving Memphis, Bankins helped the Tigers win the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl 38-10 over Utah State. Memphis finished the season ranked 14th in the nation in yards per kick return (23.21). Postseason honors went to kicker Chris Howard, who claimed first-team All-American Athletic Conference (AAC) honors after leading the conference and ranking 11th in the nation in field goals per game (1.62). Howard ranked 19th in the country in field goal percentage. In his first season with the Tigers, punter Joe Doyle earned second-team All-AAC honors from Phil Steele, and punt returner Calvin Austin III and long snapper Preston Brady earned third-team accolades. The Tigers ended the season ranked 14th nationally in special teams rankings as they finished the season ranked 13th in the nation in punt return yards (13.10), 34th in kick return defense (18.91) and 45th in net punting (40.35). Bankins spent a season with the Charlotte 49ers before spending four seasons with Old Dominion University as a running backs coach and the special teams coordinator. The Monarchs ranked 16th nationally in punt return defense and 31st in punt return average in 2018. In addition, kickoff returner Isaiah Harper secured Conference USA special teams player of the year honors in 2017 after returning three kickoffs for touchdowns. In five seasons as Vanderbilt's special teams coordinator, Bankins also coached running backs (2014-15) and tight ends (2011-13). The Commodores kick coverage team twice ranked in the top-15 nationally, and kick returner Darrius Sims earned second-team All-SEC. In 2012, the Commodores placekicker, Carey Spear, and their punter Richard Kent earned All-SEC accolades. When Bankins coached special teams at Maryland (2009-10) in addition to coaching tight ends, Terrapin punt returner Tony Logan earned first-team All-ACC recognition in 2010. In 2009, Torrey Smith captured All-ACC honors by breaking the conference single-season record for kickoff return yards. In addition, placekicker Nick Ferrara secured Freshman All-America recognition. As the running backs coach at Richmond, Bankins helped the Spiders rank 24th in total offense nationally as running back Josh Vaughan rushed for 1,884 yards. Richmond's rushing attack ranked 12th nationally in 2007, averaging 234.6 yards per game. Bankins coached fifth-round NFL selection Tim Hightower that season as he set school records in rushing touchdowns (20) and yards (1,924). In 2006, Bankins served as Hampton's offensive coordinator, running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. Bankins also coached at Hampton from 2000-04. During his first stint, Hampton's all-time leading rusher Montrell Coley won the 2000 Division I-AA scoring title with 172 points and led the MEAC in rushing with 1,582 yards. Darrian Barnes, who Bankins coached at Hampton, started at fullback in Super Bowl XXXVII for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who defeated the Oakland Raiders to win the world title. Bankins also has NFL experience, having coached on Mike Martz's 2005 St. Louis Rams team as an assistant special teams coach. In 2002, he spent the summer as a minority coaching intern for the Green Bay Packers. Two years later, he served as a special teams intern for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Also in 2004, he was named to the 2004 NCAA Expert Coaching Academy. Bankins coached wide receivers and tight ends for a year at Indiana (Pa.) University in 1999; wide receivers and tight ends at his alma mater, James Madison, in 1998; and he spent two years at Eastern Kentucky as a wide receivers coach in 1997 and a graduate assistant and academic advisor in 1996. He began coaching at his alma mater, Leonardtown (Md.) High School, in 1995, as special teams coordinator/offensive backfield. A running back from 1990-92 at James Madison, Bankins earned a bachelor's degree in speech communication with a minor in political science in 1994. He earned a master's from Eastern Kentucky in 1998. Bankins and his wife, Katrina, are the parents of a daughter, Ashley, and a son, William.

A veteran with more than two decades of coaching experience, Tony Spencer joined the North Carolina Central University football program prior to the 2022 season. He currently serves as the tight ends coach.   In 2022, Spencer helped coach an Eagles offense that had five First Team All-MEAC honorees, including Offensive Player of the Year Davius Richard and Offensive Lineman of the Year Robert Mitchell. In addition, tight end Tyler Barnes was a second team all-conference selection after averaging nearly 12 yards per reception.   Before coming to Durham, Spencer spent four seasons at the University of Idaho. There, he worked extensively with the tight ends, fullbacks and wide receivers, including unanimous All-Big Sky First Team selection Logan Kendall. Spencer's career also includes stops at Wyoming (2003-04), South Dakota (2005-10), the University of Mary (2011-13), Winona State (2013-15) and Alfred State College (2015-17). He has vast experience coaching the offensive side of the ball, primarily wide receivers and offensive line. At Winona State, Spencer helped coach offensive lineman Vance Ross to first team all-conference honors while senior Richard Lilla was an all-league and all-region honoree. The Warrior line helped the team average 434 yards and 35 points per game. At the University of Mary, Spencer tutored All-American receiver Tyler Steffan during the 2011 and 2012 seasons, with Steffan catching a school-record 17 touchdowns as a junior in 2011. Spencer spent six seasons as the offensive line coach at South Dakota, where he helped lead an offense that finished fifth nationally in total offense (460.3 ypg) in 2009, fourth in scoring (37.5 ppg) in 2008 and fourth in rushing yards (253.4 ypg in 2006, 297.5 ypg in 2005). Spencer tutored 14 all-conference linemen at South Dakota, including a Rimington Award winner, two Gene Upshaw Award finalists and four All-Americans. Spencer spent two seasons at the University of Wyoming as a graduate assistant, working with the team’s offensive line. He coached Chase Johnson, who later played for the Minnesota Vikings, while also helping lead the team to a 24-21 win over UCLA in the 2004 Pioneer Pure Vision Bowl. After an All-America playing career at Carroll College, Spencer began his coaching career at his alma mater. He was the team’s defensive backs coach in 1996 and coached wide receivers from 1999-2002, helping Carroll win the NAIA national championship in 2002. Spencer started on both sides of the ball while playing for Carroll, earning All-America honors at defensive back while leading the nation in interceptions as a senior. He was also an all-conference selection at wide receiver. Spencer earned his bachelor’s degree in business from Carroll College in 1996 and his master’s degree in health, physical education and recreation from South Dakota in 2011.  

Erik Highsmith is entering his second season with the North Carolina Central University football program for the 2025 campaign, where he will serve as wide receivers coach. Two wideouts (Joaquin Davis and Markell Quick), and one tight end in Luke Bracey, earned All-MEAC honors in Highsmith's first season in 2024. Quick ranked third in the MEAC in receiving, averaging nearly 53 receiving yards a game, while Davis was also a top-10 receiver in the league. The Eagles were second in the MEAC in passing offense in 2024, going for more than 204 yards a game through the air.   Highsmith came to Durham after spending the 2023 season as an offensive analyst at Michigan State University. He served in the same capacity at the University of Maryland in 2022, as the Terrapins ranked among the Big Ten leaders in passing offense (third with 259.8 ypg), total offense (fourth with 401.2 ypg) and scoring offense (fifth with 28.2 ppg) while winning eight games, including the Duke’s Mayo Bowl over N.C. State. He spent the 2021 season at Central State serving as the program’s offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and associate head coach. Highsmith was previously at Virginia University-Lynchburg for three years as the Dragons’ offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. He developed an offensive attack that set a variety of school records and also coached the team’s kick return unit, which had six touchdown returns in 2018. Prior to his arrival at VUL, Highsmith was the co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Overhills High School in Spring Lake, N.C. While serving on the coaching staff, Highsmith helped Overhills to its best overall record in school history and the school’s first high school playoff appearance in over a decade. Highsmith’s high-powered offense totaled over 6,000 yards of total offense while competing in North Carolina’s 4A Mid-South Athletic Conference. Highsmith has also served as an assistant coach in the annual Division II National Bowl in Daytona Beach, Fla. – an annual postseason college football all-star game consisting of top players from non-FBS schools. Originally from Vanceboro, N.C., Highsmith attended West Craven High School, where he earned all-state honors as a receiver while leading the Eagles to the 2008 3A state championship game. Highsmith led the state in receiving yards as a senior while solidifying himself among the elite players in North Carolina. The 6-3 receiver accepted a scholarship offer to play at the University of North Carolina. A four-year letterwinner at UNC from 2009-12, Highsmith ranks among the all-time Tar Heel leaders in receptions (sixth with 167), receiving yards (tied for 10th with 2,086 yards) and TD catches (tied for 11th with 15).   After graduating from UNC in 2013 with a degree in sport management, Highsmith signed as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings. Following his stint with the Vikings, Highsmith served two years in the U.S. Army as a battalion intelligence analyst before his football coaching career. He is married to Jazmine Highsmith.  

Tim Cross is entering his first season as defensive line coach for the Eagles in 2025, his latest stop in a coaching career that has seen him at the highest levels of college football and the NFL. During his career, Cross has helped develop 56 players that went on to the NFL. Before joining Mack Brown at UNC Chapel Hill, he spent five seasons at Air Force as the defensive line coach, while also serving as assistant head coach over his final two years. In 2021, Cross helped mentor two All-ACC honorees in Myles Murphy and Ray Vohasek, who was chosen in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Murphy claimed second-team honors, while Vohasek earned honorable mention recognition. Murphy was a disruptive force, finishing the year with 38 tackles, four sacks, nine TFL and three PBU. Vohasek also posted 38 tackles to go along with a sack, four TFL, four pressures and three PBU. In his second year at Carolina, Cross mentored a defensive line that helped produce 36 sacks, the most for a Carolina defense since 2000 and tied for fifth nationally. The scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense all ranked in the Top 35 nationally of teams that played at least 10 games. Individually, Ray Vohasek and Tomari Fox combined to post 7.5 sacks and 13 TFL with Vohasek claiming All-ACC honorable mention honors. Cross mentored a defensive line that helped the Tar Heels become one of the nation’s most improved units in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense during his first season. UNC allowed 373.2 yards per game, which was a nearly 75-yard per game improvement over the previous season, and bolstered its ranking by 56 positions. The scoring defense improved by 63 spots after holding opponents to 10.8 points less per game, and the rushing defense jumped 60 spots after allowing over 75 yards fewer per game. In addition, the defense surged up 60 spots in opponent third-down percentage. Cross made a positive impact on the Academy’s defensive unit. In 2018, his defensive line helped Air Force rank 16th nationally in rushing defense at 119.8 yards per game, and his 2016 group finished 10th in the same category at 114.2 yards per game. In his first year in 2014, the Falcons improved in scoring, rushing, passing and total defense, including having one of the nation’s most improved scoring defenses with an average of 24.2 points per game, a nearly 16 point-per-game improvement. The defense ranked among the conference leaders in each category in 2015, despite being one of the youngest units in the nation with just one returning starter. Up to the time of his departure, Air Force had produced six All-MWC first or second team defensive linemen with three coming under Cross’ mentorship. Alex Hansen was a two-time All-MWC performer, including a first-team selection in 2015. Jordan Jackson earned second-team honors in 2018, while Ryan Watson led the MWC in sacks en route to first-team honors in 2016. Prior to his time at Air Force, Cross completed his second stint at Texas, where he served as a strength and conditioning coach from 2011-13. While serving as associate head coach and defensive line coach at Minnesota from 2007-10, Cross helped the Gophers to a +.92 turnover margin, which ranked second in the Big Ten and No. 16 in the nation in 2008. That same year, his defensive line recorded 20.5 sacks and 44 tackles for loss which ranked in the top three in the conference and in the top 25 nationally in both categories. Cross coached defensive end D.L. Wilhite to Big Ten All-Freshman honors from The Sporting News in 2009 and saw his defensive line rack up 32 tackles for loss. He also coached defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg to first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2008. VanDeSteeg became the first Gopher defender to be named First-Team All-Big Ten since 2004. Prior to his stint at Minnesota, Cross coached the defensive line at Syracuse from 2005-06, when he helped the Orange lead the Big East and finish seventh in the nation in turnover margin at +.92. His front line at Syracuse averaged 2.8 sacks per game, which was among the nation’s top 20. A big reason for the Orange’s success in getting to opposing quarterbacks was Cross’ work with 2006 Big East sack leader Jameel McClain. Cross also coached NFL Draft selections James Wyche and Ryan LaCasse while at Syracuse. Cross first began working at Texas prior to going to Syracuse, serving as assistant strength coach for the Longhorns from 2001-04. He assisted in the development and implementation of the strength and speed programs for the UT football squad. Cross was responsible for creating training programs for a Doak Walker, a Butkus and a Nagurski Trophy winner. Cross also played a key role in the development of numerous All-Americans and All-Big 12 performers, and the Longhorns won at least nine games each season. Cross began his coaching career in Colorado at Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver, serving as head coach from 1997-2000. He also spent one season as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at TJHS. Cross led the school to four straight league titles and a 42-game conference winning streak. While at TJHS, he mentored 14 high school All-Americans, 20 all-state selections and 31 first team all-conference players. A native of Clarksville, Tenn., Cross attended Gateway High School in Aurora, Colo. and is a 1990 graduate of Northern Colorado, where he was a four-year letterman in football and earned all-North Central Conference honors as a linebacker. Cross and his wife, Natalie, have four children, Keion, Mariah, Tiana and Keira.

Eagle great Davius Richard returns to North Carolina Central University sidelines for the 2025 season, joining Trei Oliver's staff as quarterbacks coach. Richard has etched his name into the North Carolina Central football history books, having been named the MEAC's Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023. The 2022 season saw Richard lead the Eagles to a 10-2 record, the MEAC championship and an overtime victory over No. 5 Jackson State in the Cricket Celebration Bowl. He threw for 2,661 yards (third-most in program history) and 25 touchdowns that season, both conference bests by a wide margin. His 25 touchdown passes in 2022 are the second-most in program history. In 2023, Richard led the Eagles to nine wins and a berth in the NCAA Div. I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Playoffs. On his way to repeating as MEAC Offensive Player of the Year, he threw for 2,177 yards (ninth-most in program history) and a MEAC-best 21 touchdowns. Richard is the best quarterback in NCCU's Div. I history, ranking second all-time in career passing with 8,991 yards and 73 touchdowns. He also set single-season program records in 2022 in pass completions (199) and completion percentage (64%). He threw for at least 2,000 yards in each of his four seasons behind center, and Richard has three of the top 10 single-season passing seasons in Eagles history.

Grayson Reed is entering his first season with the North Carolina Central University football program, where he'll oversee an offensive line that anchored the MEAC's top scoring offense in 2025. Reed comes to the Eagles from Los Angeles, where he was an offensive assistant for the University of Southern California (USC). With the Trojans, Reed worked primarily with the offensive line. In 2024, USC finished the regular season ranked No. 10 in the nation in passing offense (291.9) and No. 1 in the Big Ten, as well as No. 23 in the nation in total offense (437.2) and second in the Big Ten.   Prior to his time with the Trojans, Reed coached at Texas A&M from 2021-23. He began his coaching career as a student assistant coach for the Aggies for the 2021 season before being elevated to an offensive assistant for two seasons. In the spring of 2024, Reed was promoted to assistant offensive line coach.    Reed received his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Texas A&M. He was a member of the Aggie football team from 2017-20.

Marvin Reed enters his second season with the North Carolina Central University football program, starting in 2025, as a defensive assistant after a playing career with the Eagles. Reed had three interceptions in three career games for the Eagles. In 2024, he played five games and had his best game of the season against Delaware State–racking up seven tackles and a pick. He had 14 total tackles in 2024. Reed was part of the 2022 NCCU squad that won the MEAC title and defeated heavily favorite Jackson State in the Cricket Celebration Bowl.

Jordan McGill is entering his second season as an offensive assistant with the North Carolina Central University football program. This is a homecoming of sorts for McGill, who lettered for the Eagles as an offensive lineman for three seasons. He saw action in four games as an Eagle in 2023, before playing in all 11 games in 2024 – a season in which NCCU won eight games and led the MEAC in both total offense and rushing offense. In April 2025, McGill was named to the National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society, which recognizes college football players across all levels who maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher. He was also a MEAC All-Academic honoree.

Tommy Thigpen, a veteran of the game who’s seen experience at both the professional and power conference collegiate level, joins the Eagles football coaching staff in 2026 to serve as defensive coordinator and safeties coach. Most recently, Thigpen spent the 2025 season coaching linebackers for the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League (UFL). A linebacker who starred at North Carolina before playing professionally for the New York Giants and the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe, Thigpen has a wealth of college coaching experience. From 2019-24, Thigpen was on staff at his alma mater, serving as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Thigpen came to Carolina after spending five seasons at Tennessee (2013-17) as the linebackers coach and, beginning in 2016, the defensive run game coordinator. In Knoxville, Thigpen coached linebackers A.J. Johnson, Curt Maggitt and Jalen Reeves-Maybin to All-SEC honors. The Volunteers won three straight bowl games in his time at UT. Prior to heading to Knoxville, Thigpen spent four seasons at Auburn, where he mentored the safeties (2009-11) and linebackers (2012). He helped the Tigers to the BCS National Championship in 2010, a season in which Auburn ranked ninth in the country in rush defense at 109.1 yards per game. Prior to his tenure at Auburn, Thigpen coached linebackers at North Carolina from 2005-08. He tutored UNC’s leading tacklers in each of his four seasons in Chapel Hill, coaching eventual standouts including Zach Brown, Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant. Thigpen coached for two years at Illinois, serving as the cornerbacks coach in 2003 and the linebackers coach in 2004. In 2001-02, he coached cornerbacks and was the special teams coordinator at Bowling Green State. Thigpen began his coaching career as a UNC graduate assistant in 1998-99. He then coached linebackers at Tennessee State in 2000. A Parade All-American and Virginia Defensive Player of the Year at Potomac High School in Dumfries, Va., Thigpen earned four letters at North Carolina from 1989-92 and secured his bachelor’s degree in political science. He was a three-time All-ACC linebacker, earning first-team honors in 1991. Thigpen went on to play professionally for the New York Giants in 1993-94 and the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe in 1995-96 before beginning his coaching career. Thigpen is married to the former Jacinda Webb and the couple has two daughters, Asia and Naja.

Elijah Coleman joins the North Carolina Central University football program for the 2026 season, serving as recruiting coordinator and cornerbacks coach. Coleman is no stranger to the MEAC, having played and coached at Howard University. He comes to Durham after serving three seasons on staff at Howard. He joined the Bison coaching staff in 2023 as a quality control coach after a successful playing career, then was named assistant defensive backs coach in 2024 and cornerbacks coach for the 2025 season. During Coleman’s coaching tenure with the Bison, defensive back Kenny Gallop, Jr. was named MEAC Defensive Player of the Year (2023) and was a 2024 BOXTOROW and Associated Press All-American. From 2019-22, Coleman was a member of the Bison football team. In 2021, he played in 10 contests and recorded two interceptions. In his final season, he guided the program to its first conference title since 1993. Off the field, Coleman was named to both the MEAC Football All-Academic Team and Commissioner's All-Academic Team. Coleman graduated from Howard with a degree in mathematics.

Claude Clayborne joined the North Carolina Central University football program before the start of the 2021 season, marking the 2025 campaign his fifth with the Eagles. He currently serves as linebackers coach. The 2024 season saw Clayborne coach First Team All-MEAC selection Jaki Brevard and Second Team honoree Max U'Ren. Brevard led the team in tackles and tackles for loss (ranking sixth in the MEAC in both categories), while U'Ren was third on the Eagles in total stops.   Clayborne helped the Eagles lead the MEAC in scoring defense in 2021, allowing just 21.7 points per game. NCCU was also second in the MEAC in passing defense that year, only giving up just over 209 yards per game through the air.   In 2022, the Eagles defense ranked second in the MEAC in both scoring and total yardage en route to winning 10 games, the MEAC title and a berth to the Cricket Celebration Bowl.   Three Eagles defenders earned First Team All-MEAC honors in 2023, including sophomore linebacker Jayden Flaker, who ranked second in the MEAC with an average of 7.1 tackles per game. His 85 total tackles were the most in the conference, as were his 54 solo stops.   Clayborne began his coaching career at Los Angeles Pierce College from 2012-14, where he served as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. From there, he was linebackers coach and defensive coordinator for Los Angeles Valley College in 2014.   Prior to getting into coaching, Clayborne co-founded the sports publication 6Magazine, which lasted from 2008 to 2013.   A native of Spiro, Okla., Clayborne earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Oklahoma in 2005.  

Ethan Fame joins the North Carolina Central University football program, where he will serve as the general manager. The 2026 campaign will be his second with the Eagles. Fame has also spent time at Duke University as part of the event staff, and he also spent the summer of 2024 as a recruiting intern for North Carolina-Chapel Hill’s football program. Fame was a four-year letterwinner at Seton Hill University, an NCAA Div. II program in Greensburg, Pa. A tight end, Fame played in 30 career games for the Griffins, catching 41 passes for 679 yards and four touchdowns. In his senior season, Fame caught 11 passes for 325 yards and two scores. Fame earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Seton Hill in 2024.

Chris Barnette joins North Carolina Central University as the Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator on Feb. 1, 2026. Barnette brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of winning championships, developing quarterbacks, and building explosive, efficient offenses.   Barnette just completed his second season as offensive coordinator at Alabama State University, helping the Hornets finish with a 10-2 record. The 2025 Hornets’ offense was electric all year, scoring at least 30 PPG in every contest. The Hornet offense led the conference in nearly every key category, including Team Passing Efficiency -194.11 (National Rank #1), Scoring Offense - 42.4 PPG (National Rank #2), 3rd Down Conversion - 51.4% (National Rank #4), Total Offense - 460.5 YPG (National Rank #5) Red Zone Offense - 91.4% (National Rank #7). The Hornets ranked #2 in the conference in Rushing Offense - 213 YPG and first downs – 22.2 pg. Barnette’s mentee, Andrew Body earned HBCU Offensive Player of the Year and SWAC Offensive Player of the Year.   Prior to joining Alabama State, Barnette served as the offensive coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach at Winston-Salem State in 2023. Barnette’s mentee, Quarterback Daylin Lee, earned All-Conference Honors as a true freshman.   In 2021, Barnette was selected for the NFL Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship with the Washington Football Team, now known as the Washington Commanders. He assisted with the wide receivers during training camp and organized team activities.   From 2015 to 2022, Barnette played a crucial role in the success of North Carolina A&T State University as the Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach. During his tenure, the Aggies won four Conference Championships and four Celebration Bowl Championships (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019).  During that time, the team also achieved victories over 3 FBS opponents, including Kent State (2015), UNC-Charlotte (2016), and East Carolina University (2018).   Barnette served as Offensive Coordinator from 2018 to 2022. During his final year, NC A&T boasted the #1 Rushing Offense and #2 ranked 3rd Down Offense in the Big South Conference. The rushing offense was led by current Jacksonville Jaguar, Bhayshul Tuten, helping the Aggies to a 7-4 record.   In 2019, Barnette orchestrated an offense that finished 6th nationally, averaging 38.1 points per game. The NC A&T offense led the MEAC Conference in seven statistical categories, including points per game, total offense, rushing offense, red zone offense, first downs, fourth down conversion rate, and time of possession. During the 2019 HBCU National Championship, the Aggies scored a Celebration Bowl record 64 points, defeating Alcorn State 64-44. Quarterback Kylil Carter earned Celebration Bowl MVP after a stellar performance, throwing for 364 yds and 6 TD’s. During his time at NC A&T, Barnette also developed QB Lamar Raynard. Raynard was the 2017 MEAC Offensive Player of the Year and the 2018 Celebration Bowl MVP.   Prior to NC A&T, Barnette spent 8 years at Guilford College, serving as the receivers coach(2007-2010) and Offensive Coordinator/Quarterback Coach (2011-2014) During his final year, Barnette’s prolific offense averaged 40.7 PPG and were nationally ranked in several categories including: 1st in 3rd down (58.1%), 1st in Passing Efficiency (176.39), 3rd in Passing Yds (349.5 YPG), 6th in Total Offense (507 YPG). Barnette’s mentee, Quarterback Matt Pawlowski earned All American honors.     During Spring 2008, Barnette served as the Offensive Coordinator for Elancourt Templiers of the French Elite League. The team finished 9-3 and played in the League Championship Game.   Barnette played collegiately at Guilford College (2003-2006). During his career, he caught a school record 266 receptions for 2,953 yds and 30 TD’s. Barnette was a two-time All-American Performer and earned 2006 ODAC Conference Player of the Year.   Barnette is a Person County native with several family ties to North Carolina Central University. Barnette and his wife Tamara, have two children, Nya and Amir.

A football trailblazer, Jennifer King joined the North Carolina Central University football program in 2025. She serves as an offensive analyst, working primarily with the wide receivers. King comes to the Eagles after becoming the first Black woman to be a full-time coach in the National Football League (NFL). The journey started when King met Ron Rivera at the NFL Women’s Forum in 2018, and he hired her as a coaching intern with the Carolina Panthers. In addition, King was an offensive assistant at Dartmouth in 2019. While there, King was one of three recipients of the inaugural Scott Pioli & Family Fund for Women Football Coaches & Scouts grant. In 2020, she reunited with Rivera as a coaching intern with the Washington Commanders. The following year, King was promoted to assistant running backs coach, becoming the first Black woman in NFL history to be a full-time coach. In 2022, King was the West team’s running backs coach for the East-West Shrine Bowl. In 2024, the Chicago Bears hired King as an offensive assistant, where she focused on the running backs. King was a two-sport athlete at Guilford College, playing both basketball and softball. She graduated in 2006 with a degree in sports management, and she added a master’s degree in sports management from Liberty University in 2016. After graduating from Guilford, King played in the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA). She was a quarterback and wide receiver for the Carolina Phoenix from 2006-17, before joining the New York Sharks in 2018 as receiver and defensive back, and the D.C. Divas as a safety in 2019. Her coaching career also includes college basketball; she was an assistant coach at Greensboro College for 10 years, before being named head women’s basketball coach at Johnson & Wales University. In two seasons at Johnson & Wales, King won 37 games and claimed the 2018 USCAA Div. II national championship. King is a native of Reidsville, N.C.