New Football Coaching Staff Additions At JCSU for the 2011 Season
New Football Coaching Staff Additions At JCSU for the 2011 Season
Four new coaches join the staff
August 19, 2011
Charlotte, NC - The Johnson C. Smith University football program has the announced four new coaches joining the staff. Headlining the new coaching additions is former NFL safety for the Carolina Panthers Mike Minter as the assistant head football coach and defensive pass game coordinator. Deshawn Baker comes aboard as the running backs coach, Jonathan Hodges named linebackers coach, and former student-athlete Marques Reese will learn and teach as the student assistant offensive lineman coach.
Minter comes to Johnson C. Smith after an impressive three-year stint as Head of Football Operations and Head Coach for First Assembly Christian School in Concord, NC. In three years under Minter’s leadership as head coach, First Assembly’s record was 33-4. First Assembly won the state championship two out of three years and in 2009 recorded a perfect season of 13-0.
Prior to coaching, Minter spent 10 years in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers. In his 10 seasons with the Panthers, Minter accumulated 954 tackles (all-time team leader), 9.5 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, 8 fumble recoveries, 15 interceptions (with 371 yards on the returns, and 4 defensive touchdowns.) He led the Panthers to two NFC Championships and Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004).
Deshawn Baker will provide tutelage to the running backs as the running backs coach for the Golden Bulls. Baker has tons of first-hand experience, after leading the Bulldogs of South Carolina State University for four seasons (2003-07) at running back. Baker was the 2006 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Offensive Player of the Year. During the 2006 season, Baker led the MEAC in rushing with 1,289 yards, rushing for over 1,000-yards for three-consecutive seasons.
Highly revered as a SCSU Bulldogs, Baker is the third all-time leading rusher in South Carolina State history. He was also voted one of the top “100 Players to Ever Play at SCSU.” Baker was a 2007 NFL Draft prospect and spent time in training camp with the Cleveland Brown before suffering a devastating knee injury.
Jonathan Hodges joins the Golden Bulls football coaching staff this season as the linebackers coach. Hodges coaching career began at Millbrook High School in Raleigh, NC as the training camp assistant in 2004. He later moved on to Wake Forest-Rolesville High. At Wake, he served as the linebackers’ coach (varsity) and junior varsity special teams’ coordinator (2008-09). Prior to joining the staff at JCSU, Hodges interned under the Director of Athletics at Cedar Shoals High in Athens, GA (2010-11).
Marques Reese joins the JCSU football coaching staff as a student assistant offensive lineman coach. Reese played four seasons for the Golden Bulls (2007-10) on the offensive line. He played a total of 29 games at the offensive guard and/or center position(s). Reese has provided protection for two different 2,000+ yard passer (Carlton Richardson & Ryan Carter). In his senior season (2010), he started eight games and earned team captain honors. Reese is currently completing his degree in Sports Management at JCSU.
Coaches Maurice Flowers (offensive coordinator), Kevin Thompson (offensive line), Craig Cox (defensive coordinator), Steve Shipp (wide receivers), and Marshall Banks (defensive line) will all be returning to the coaching staff from last season.
Coach Thompson has been promoted to associate head coach, in addition to being the offensive lineman coach and head equipment manager. Coach Cox has been promoted from defensive line coach to the defensive coordinator; he is still the head recruiting coordinator. Coach Banks has been elevated from student assistant coach to the defensive lineman coach upon completing his degree.
The Golden Bulls will kickoff the season on Saturday, September 3rd inside the Irwin Belk Complex. JCSU will face West Virginia State University in the home season-opener. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. and festivities for the pre-game Festi-Bull Kickoff beginning at 12 noon.
