West Virginia State University Men's Football

John Pennington enters his ninth year as the Head Football Coach at West Virginia State University in 2025. Pennington was named head coach in the Spring of 2017 and promptly proceeded to lead the program to its first winning season in a decade. In his first season as head coach, the Yellow Jackets hit statistical milestones that were unheard of prior to his arrival. They earned a No. 1 ranking in all of NCAA Division II in red zone offense by scoring 47 times out of 48 attempts.  Additionally, his team ranked first in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) in completion percentage, third down conversions, and passing yards per game. They placed second in the MEC in total offense, first downs, and scoring per game. Pennington previously served as Special Teams Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach for the Yellow Jackets in 2010. From February of 2011 until returning to WVSU,  he was a member of the coaching staff at Concord University. Pennington held a variety of positions there including Special Teams Coordinator, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Wide Receivers Coach, and Director of Football Operations. His duties also included recruiting in the Kanawha Valley as well as in the Richmond, Va. and Washington D.C. areas. Under his tutelage, four Concord wide receivers received All-Conference honors and the team’s kicker was selected First Team All-MEC.      In 2015, Pennington returned to West Virginia State and served as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach. Sophomore quarterback Matt Kinnick led the MEC in passing yardage per game during that season. Prior to his first stint at WVSU, Pennington coached the defensive backs and offensive linemen at WVU Tech while running the strength and conditioning program during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Pennington also served as the Offensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach of the semi-pro West Virginia Lightning team based out of Charleston. During his time with the Lightning, the team won two United States Football Association championships.     Pennington began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at West Virginia Wesleyan College, working with the wide receivers from 2005 through 2006 and the defensive backs in 2007. He earned a Master’s in Business Administration from West Virginia Wesleyan in 2007. Before entering the coaching profession, Pennington was a three-year letterman as a wide receiver at West Virginia University and was selected by the coaches as the “Ideal Mountaineer Man” in 2003 and 2004. He graduated in 2005 with a double major in Accounting and Finance along with a minor in Communications. Pennington endeared himself to Mountaineers fans when he made what has come to be known simply as “The Catch” – a diving 28-yard touchdown grab on fourth-down with seconds left in the first half against arch-rival Pitt in the 2003 Backyard Brawl. WVU would win that game over the No. 16 Panthers, 52-31, and move into the Top-25 the following week. The Mountaineers went on to claim a share of their first Big East championship in 10 years. A native of Charleston, W.Va., Pennington played varsity football and baseball at George Washington High School. He resides in Charleston with his lovely wife, Andrea, and their three beautiful children: Nolan, Levi and Ava. Recruiting Areas: Kanawha Valley, W.Va. / Northern Va. / Richmond, Va. WVSU Head Coaching Record: Year Overall MEC 2017 6-5 5-5 2018 6-5 5-5 2019 7-4 7-3 2020 2-2 2-2 2021 6-5 6-4 2022 7-4 6-4 34-25 31-23  

Rashad Jackson begins his first season as Defensive Coordinator with West Virginia State in 2025, bringing a wealth of experience and a proven record of defensive success at both the high school and collegiate levels. A former standout cornerback at Marshall University, Jackson was a two-time All-Conference USA selection and played professionally before moving into coaching. He has led dramatic program turnarounds, including guiding Oceanside Collegiate Academy from a winless season to an undefeated regular season in just three years, and steering Glades Central High School to a state finals appearance. At Glenville State College, his secondary finished first in the MEC in interceptions in consecutive seasons, and he has coached multiple all-conference and future professional players. Known for his ability to build winning cultures and develop talent, Jackson has sent more than 60 athletes on to play collegiate football. His teams are equally strong in the classroom, with consistent GPA improvements under his leadership.

Matt Cavallaro begins his first season as Offensive Coordinator with West Virginia State in 2025 after elevating Faulkner University’s passing attack as the team’s Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach. A former quarterback at West Virginia University, Idaho State, and Lackawanna College, Cavallaro has played in and coached within multiple offensive systems, from Air Raid and RPO-based schemes to Run and Shoot concepts. At Faulkner, he helped improve the passing game by more than 750 yards in a single season, developed multiple quarterbacks into award winners, and was promoted to coordinator midseason for his leadership and game-planning skills. His coaching career also includes work with wide receivers at Lackawanna College and mentoring quarterbacks at his alma mater, Delaware Valley High School. Known as a bright offensive mind and an excellent communicator, Cavallaro is committed to building an explosive, disciplined offense that maximizes player strengths and keeps defenses off balance.