South Carolina State University Men's Football

Kevin King joins the South Carolina State Football staff as the Special Teams Coordinator and Safeties coach. Coach King comes to South Carolina State from Benedict College where he was the Special Teams Coordinator and Safeties Coach. During his time at Benedict College, Coach King was a part of back-to-back SIAC Championship, also back-to-back Top 5 Defenses in the country at the Division 2 level. Prior to that Coach King spent time at Franklin Pierce University and Oklahoma Panhandle State University. Coach King began his coaching career at The Southern University A&M College, where he worked with South Carolina State Head Coach for three seasons. At Southern University, he served as a graduate assistant coach for the defensive backs, during which time he coached a quarter of All- Southwestern Athletic Conference selections. Originally from Jacksonville, Fl King earned both his bachelor’s and master’s Degree from Southern University.  

Gary Howard joins the South Carolina State Bulldogs coaching staff as the Defensive Line coach. Howard comes to the Bulldogs after serving in the similar role at Benedict. During his time at Benedict, Howard had back-to-back Defensive Players of the Year in the SIAC and Two All-Americans in Jayden Broughton and Loobert Denelus. He has also coached two First Team All-Conference selections in Broughton and Denelus, also a Second-Team All-Conference selection in Aaron Miller. Prior to Benedict, Howard spent five seasons coaching the defensive line at Alabama State University under head coach Donald Hill-Eley. At Alabama State, he helped the Hornets defense hold opponents to 140.8 yards rushing and 184.8 yards passing, while also helping a defense hold opponents to 17 points or less twice in just five games. As a college football player, Howard lettered in football at Alabama State after transferring to Montgomery from Phoenix Junior College. Howard played in nine games on the defensive line in 2016, and 11 games on the defensive line in 2015. A native of Houston, Texas, Howard graduated from Alabama State University with a bachelor’s degree in communications (public relations), and a master’s degree in applied technology. Coach Howard also has an associate degree in general studies. Howard has a 4-year old daughter, Zoie Isabella Howard.    

Michael Styles joins the South Carolina State University football staff as the Cornerbacks Coach. Coach Styles comes to Orangeburg after spending the 2022 and 2023 seasons at Benedict College as the Cornerbacks Coach.  During his time at Benedict College, the team had back-to-back undefeated regular seasons and were back-to-back SIAC Conference Champions. Coach Styles helped Benedict become one of the top 5 defenses in all categories in the NCAA D2, while having the #1 defense in passing yards allowed and #1 in defensive passing efficiency in the nation at the end of the regular season in back-to-back years. He helped produce First Team All SIAC Conference and First Team All Super Region Cornerback Ja’Voni Melidor, while on the other side of the field he had Second Team All-American Josh Heyward who was invited to the Hulu Bowl and Legacy Bowl. In his two seasons as Defensive Coordinator at Hocking, Styles' defense was ranked in the Top 25 nationally, helping to lead Hocking to a 7-3 record during the fall season. While at Hocking College, he helped produce a NJCAA All-American in Izayah Aekins, while also helping multiple players earn D-I football scholarships. During the 2021 spring season, Coach Styles developed the defense into one of the best junior college defenses in the country, getting them to the nationally ranked number 1 defense by only allowing six points during that time. Prior to joining Hocking College in 2021, Coach Styles was the defensive coordinator at Westside High School for two seasons. While at Westside, Coach Styles helped Westside obtain one of the best records in school history at 8-2 in 2019, while also helping produce the first back-to-back FHSAA playoff appearances in school history. Styles' defense was one of the top ranked defenses in the country in 2019, with 53 sacks, 21 interceptions, and 5 defensive touchdowns. He also helped produce one 5A First Team All-State player in Defensive Back Angelo Philpot, 5A Second Team All-State Linebacker Jeremiah Dawson, and one player to 5A Honorable Mention Defensive End Chadwick Martin and the 5A District 3 player of the year Defensive Back Angelo Philpot. In 2020, he helped produce another 5A district player of the year in Defensive Back/Wide Receiver Antwon McCrae. In 2018, Coach Styles was the Defensive Coordinator for Curie Metropolitan High School, where he coached the No. 1 defense in Chicago Public Schools and the state of Illinois. There he also helped produce All State Linemen Kevo Wesley, who now attended Vanderbilt University. During the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Coach Styles served as the Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator at DRW Prep in Chicago, where he led the Cheetahs to a 16-6 record, and leading them to the Intra-City 6 Conference Championship. Coach Styles began his coaching career at his alma mater, Warner University in Lake Wales, Florida. Coach Styles coached at his alma mater for three full seasons. Coach Styles coached the defensive backs while also serving as the recruiting coordinator. During his coaching time at Warner, he helped Warner to one of the top defenses in the NAIA while coaching three all-conference players, and Sun Conference defensive player of the year Loronza Smith, who was also a finalist for the Cliff Harris award. As a collegiate player for Warner, Coach Styles was a part of the first program ever fielded at Warner University and served as a team captain for the 2013 season, where he also earned his bachelor's degree in Sports Management. Prior to Warner, Coach Styles played defensive back for West Virginia State. Prior to West Virginia State, Coach Styles played at Hutchinson Community College where he was a part of the No. 1 recruiting class in JUCO and College of DuPage. All where he had the honor of being a team captain. Coach Styles was invited to the USA College Football Bowl and selected to participate in the regional and super regional NFL combines. Coach Styles has two daughters, Zoey Styles and Nialah Styles  

David Blanchard is in his 28th season as a member of the South Carolina State coaching staff. Elevated to assistant head coach in 2007, Blanchard coaches the Bulldog defensive line, an assignment he has held for the last 21 seasons. He served as recruiting coordinator under Coach Buddy Pough for seven seasons (2002-08) and was offensive line coach under retired Bulldog head coach Willie Jeffries. Blanchard joined the SC State staff as a full-time coach in 1995, following one year as a student assistant. He has continued to build upon the team’s history of success in developing outstanding defensive linemen. During his tenure, he has aided in the development of some of the best linemen to ever wear the Garnet & Blue in former National Football League offensive linemen Lewis Kelly, Raleigh Roundtree, Dawani Fladger and tight end Arthur Love who earned a Super Bowl ring with the New England Patriots, as well as defensive lineman Ken Jones, who played in the 2007 Arena Bowl Championship with the Columbus Destroyers. Blanchard also coached former Bulldog standout and All-MEAC performer Ronell Ferguson. In 2013, the Bulldog defense ranked first in the nation in total defense and team sacks and was second in rush defense. Two of Blanchard's players, Andrew Carter and Alex Glover, were named SBN All-Americans. In 2002, Blanchard made the switch from offensive line coach to defensive line. Since that time, he has helped Coach Pough win or share five MEAC titles. In addition, he has gone on to develop some of the best defensive lines in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, producing at least one All-MEAC defensive lineman in each of the last seven seasons. In 2011, it was Jason Ayers and Patrick Washington. Before that, it was Cedric Lloyd and Keyon Brooks. Eric Turner was a first-team selection in 2006 and the year prior, Travis Kinloch earned his second All-MEAC nod under Blanchard’s tutelage. However, the best example of Blanchard’s leadership came in former Bulldog nose tackle Marcus Darby, who came to SC State with no prep experience, but earned All-MEAC honors in the 2004 season. In 2014, he coached one of the best defensive lineman to play for SC State in Javon Hargrave. Hargrave had a stellar year leading the nation in tackles for loss (23.5/2.3 per game) and finishing second in sacks (16/1.5 per game). He was ranked #1 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in sacks and tackles for loss and finished with 55 tackles, eight (8) quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup. Hargrave broke the school record for sacks in the game, while tying the FCS Division I-AA National and MEAC Record with his six sack performance against #14 nationally-ranked Bethune-Cookman. A standout offensive lineman for the Bulldogs from 1990-94, Blanchard earned All-MEAC honors as a center in 1992 and 1993, and was a teammate of former All-MEAC and All-Pro Offensive lineman Orlando “Zeus” Brown. He also anchored the SC State offensive line that propelled the Bulldogs to the 1993 Heritage Bowl title against Southern University.  Blanchard earned a bachelor of science from SC State in 1994. In 1999, he completed an internship with the Miami Dolphins under then-head coach Jimmy Johnson. Blanchard is a 1989 graduate of Thomson High School in Thomson, Ga., where he was a letterwinner in both football and basketball. He earned all-region honors twice (1987-89) and all-state accolades in 1989. He and his wife, the former Trevenia Bracey, are the proud parents of two children, daughter Morgan (22) and son David Jr. (16).  

Rashard Alston enters his second season on the South Carolina State Bulldogs football staff as the Running Backs Coach. In 2024, Alston's unit showcased both efficiency and toughness, averaging an impressive 5.1 yards per carry. The Bulldogs rushed for 1,310 yards on 257 attempts, with a remarkable 971 of those yards coming after contact—highlighting the physicality and resilience of his backs. Under his guidance, three running backs—KZ Adams, Tyler Smith, and Deondra Duehart—each recorded 100-yard games. The backfield depth was on full display, as five different players found the end zone throughout the season. KZ Adams capped the year with a standout performance, scoring three touchdowns in the final regular season game. Alston comes to Bulldog Country from Bluefield State University where he served as the Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks coach for the 2023 season.  In his previous role as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks coach at Bluefield State University, Alston led the Big Blue Offense to remarkable improvements in 2023. Under his guidance, total offense increased by an impressive 850 yards, and total touchdowns saw a significant boost of 10. The passing game flourished, with an increase of over 700 yards and 10 more passing touchdowns. His ability to nurture talent is evident in the success of his quarterbacks. He mentored two true freshman quarterbacks, Jai'Que Hart and Isiah Teal, who led the offense to become the #2 passing offense in the CIAA. Hart made history with a school-record 5 TD passes in his first career start, earning him the CIAA Conference Player of the Week honor.    Despite an injury to Hart, Teal stepped up and shattered records with an incredible performance against Lincoln University. He threw for 442 yards and 5 TDs in just one half, setting new school records for total offense in a game and passing yards in a game. Teal's exceptional play earned him All-CIAA honors and the prestigious CIAA Rookie of the Year title. He finished #17 in the nation in completions per game with 18.83 per game and #24 in the nation in passing yards per game with 236.5 per game.    Alston's impact extends beyond individual players. Under his leadership, the Big Blue Offense excelled in 4th down conversions, ranking 1st in the CIAA in both conversion percentage and total conversions. His wide receivers also made their mark, with 5 of them securing spots in the top 20 of the CIAA for both receptions and receiving touchdowns.    In 2022 Alston served as Associate Head Coach and Co-offensive Coordinator where he coached the Wide Receivers in an explosive passing attack. In that time Alston coached 4 different receivers to multiple 100-yard or 2 touchdown outings. Under Alston’s tutelage 3 Big Blue Wideouts finished top 25 in Division II statistical categories. True freshmen deep threat duo Khyon Smith and Timothy Henderson finished #4 and #19 in the nation in yards per reception. Sophomore Summerville, SC native Perry Wilder III finished #9 in the nation in receptions per game breaking a school record with 13 receptions in the opener vs. now conference rival Johnson C. Smith University. The Goose Creek, SC native, Khyon Smith, had a few career days of his own, one of which where he broke the school record for receiving yards in a game with 194 yards in a dominating individual performance against Central State University.  Alston Joined the Big Blue staff in 2021 as the Running backs coach and recruiting coordinator where he also was named Director of Football Operations. He then went on to help build the roster for the first Bluefield State Football team to touch the field since 1980.    Prior to Bluefield State University, he served as an Offensive Graduate Assistant at Hastings College. There he coached the Wide Receivers for two seasons from 2018-2020. Coaching a receiver to All-Conference Honors both years. Rashard also coached Receiver Keiotey Stenhouse, who not only was the first Wide Receiver to be named to an All-Conference team in over 10 years for the Hastings College Broncos but also broke a school record with 12 receptions in a game in 2019.   Prior to his stint at Hastings College, Rashard was the running backs coach and run game coordinator at North Charleston High School in South Carolina. There he was given the play-calling duties from the midpoint to the end of the season. Before starting his coaching career, Alston played running back for a season, before transferring over to the linebacker spot at Newberry College from 2013 to 2017. In his time at Newberry, the Wolves made 3 playoff appearances including an undefeated conference schedule and a conference championship in 2016.   In 2014 Alston, was selected to compete for the USA Football U19 team in the IFAF World Cup in Kuwait City, Kuwait. The team won games against Japan, Germany, Mexico, and Canada on the way to bringing home the Gold Medal.

Avis Howell-Gathers is a retired higher education administrator with decades of experience dedicated to advancing student success. Throughout her career, she implemented programs and initiatives that fostered academic achievement, personal development, and career readiness. A proud alum of South Carolina State University, Avis attributes much of her professional drive to the values instilled during her time at SCSU. In retirement, she remains committed to supporting education, mentoring future leaders, and giving back to the community.

Marcus Hicks joins South Carolina State Bulldogs coaching staff as the Director of Video and Multimedia for Football. Hicks comes to SC State from Townson where he previously served as the video coordinator since 2002. This is his second stint with SCSU, where he previously served as the director of film and social media at South Carolina State University from July 2018-July 2022. He created hype videos, highlight tapes, graphics, and posters for numerous athletic teams. Hicks was also responsible for developing and maintaining video equipment inventory, researching new video graphic methods as well as making recommendations for new enhancements and training student employees. Prior to this he worked as a film and graphic design coordinator at Morgan State University from June 2014-July 2018. He worked with DVSport video software to import and export games, plan and coordinate the filming of all team practices, and make various edits for players. He also created social media platforms for the football team, weekly hype videos and graphics. Hicks graduated from Morgan State in 2020, earning his bachelor’s degree in liberal arts.