Forgive North Carolina A&T football fans if they have more spring in their step as the calendar advances toward the 2025 season.
Yes, the Aggies went 1-11 on the gridiron last year. Yes, this proud program has only has two wins since joining the CAA in 2023 – and none against their new conference foes.
Yet optimism abounds that NC A&T football has turned a corner with the recent hire of former assistant Shawn Gibbs to be the next head coach.
That optimism only expanded more as Gibbs officially announced the members of his new staff earlier this week – many of whom will be familiar names to A&T faithful – and as he builds out his first roster.
“I’m excited about the staff we have assembled here,” Gibbs said Monday in a release announcing recent hires. “We have several guys who have ties to A&T and have accomplished many things as players and coaches in the HBCU world and in the pros as players.”
Homecoming: Most assistants have been on previous NC A&T staffs
Gibbs has assembled a strong collection of talented, experienced minds on the defensive and offensive sides of the ball. Most have ties to North Carolina A&T football in some capacity, including a few holdovers from the previous staff.
Here are capsules on the new coach hires:
1. Denzel Jones – Defensive Coordinator & Linebackers Coach
- Connection to NC A&T:
- A&T alumnus and former standout linebacker (2012-2015).
- Defensive MVP of the inaugural Celebration Bowl in 2015.
- Previously served as A&T’s inside linebackers coach (2018-2022).
- Accomplishments:
- Oversaw the best rushing defense in Division II as defensive coordinator at Fort Valley State (FVSU) in 2024, a unit that allowed only 52.4 rushing yards per game (the next closest team allowed more than 60 yards).
- FVSU ranked 16th nationally (D2) in total defense last season. Obviously, A&T faces different competition, but the Aggies need a boost on that side of the ball, having finished 110th in total defense in FCS a season ago (438.2 ypg) and 106th in rushing defense (194.6).
2. Greg McGhee – Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach
- Connection to A&T:
- While not an A&T alum, McGhee is well-known in the MEAC (the Aggies’ former conference), where he was an elite quarterback for Howard University.
- Has experience coaching against A&T during his time at Howard.
- Accomplishments:
- Howard’s all-time leader in total yards and completions.
- Two-time MEAC Offensive Player of the Year (2013, 2014), sharing the 2014 honor with A&T legendary running back Tarik Cohen.
- As Howard’s quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator, he helped the team rank among the top passing offenses in the MEAC. He also coached QBs at West Liberty from 2020-22, and was promoted to OC in ‘22.
3. Ron Mattes – Offensive Line Coach
- Connection to A&T:
- Longtime member of the Aggies coaching staff, entering his 10th season overall.
- Coached some of the program’s best offensive linemen, including Brandon Parker (now with the Atlanta Falcons) as well as Micah Shaw and Marcus Pettiford, who were MEAC offensive linemen of the year.
- Accomplishments:
- Helped the Aggies develop consistently dominant offensive lines, essential to their run-heavy offenses in recent years.
4. Tony McRae – Defensive Backs Coach
- Connection to A&T:
- Former Aggie standout cornerback (2012-2015).
- Played in the NFL and is a recognized name among A&T fans.
- Scored a memorable 91-yard kickoff return touchdown in A&T’s upset of Appalachian State in 2013.
- Accomplishments:
- Cornerbacks coach at North Carolina Central the past three years, helping the rival Eagles win the 2022 Celebration Bowl and finish as MEAC runners-up in 2023 and 2024.
- Developed defensive backs for NCCU’s FCS playoff run in 2023.
5. Keith Henry – Running Backs Coach
- Connection to A&T:
- On the previous staff with the Aggies, coaching safeties in 2023 and 2024.
- Accomplishments:
- Has been a collegiate coach for three decades, including stops at Western Carolina, Charlotte, Catawba and a decade at Wake Forest (2001-11), which enjoyed .
6. Terry Lantz – Outside Linebackers Coach
- Connection to A&T:
- Previously coached at A&T under Rod Broadway and Sam Washington (2017-2022).
- Accomplishments:
- Served as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Averett University for the past two seasons.
7. OC Williams II – Defensive Line Coach
- Connection to A&T:
- New to A&T but follows head coach Shawn Gibbs from Fort Valley State.
- Accomplishments:
- Served as assistant head coach the past three seasons at FVSU and was a primary mentor of the Wildcats’ top-notch defense in 2024.
8. Nate Poole – Wide Receivers Coach
- Connection to A&T:
- Has been on staff in Aggieland since 2020, developing standout receivers like Zachary Leslie, Taymon Cooke and Ger-Cari Caldwell (530 yards, 3 TDs in 2024).
- Accomplishments:
- Mentored multiple all-conference receivers at Division II Wingate prior to joining A&T.
- Has spent time coaching in the NFL and NFL Europe and has high school coaching experience in the Charlotte area.
- Earned All-MAC honors three times while playing at Marshall, finishing his collegiate career with 189 catches for 2,556 yards and 32 TDs.
9. Stephen Barnette – Tight Ends Coach
- Connection to A&T:
- Joined the Aggies in 2024 under former head coach Vincent Brown.
- Accomplishments:
- Helped develop All-ACC wide receiver Jordan Moore during a stint as an assistant at Duke in 2023.
- Coached wide receivers/tight ends at the FCS level with New Hampshire (2022) and Towson (2020-21).
- Three-year starter at wide receiver at Richmond (2012-13), finishing with 197 catches for 2,844 yards and 17 TDs.
10. Alex Purviance – Assistant Linebackers Coach
- Connection to A&T:
- Joined the program in 2023 under Vincent Brown.
- Accomplishments:
- Served as secondary coach and defensive line quality control coach at Yale during the Bulldogs’ 2022 Ivy League championship run
- Played for four seasons at William & Mary, mostly when Brown was the Tribe’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
Former A&T QB Alston Hooker Rejoining Aggies
As with the coaching staff, the A&T roster also is welcoming back former Aggies. Quarterback Alston Hooker, who played in a reserve role in 2022 and 2023 before transferring to Florida A&M in 2024, has announced he is coming back to the program. Hooker is the brother of former Tennessee/Virginia Tech quarterback Hendon Hooker, who went to the Detrott Lions in 2023.
Wide receiver Ryan Stephens, who spent his freshman year at East Carolina but did not play, plans to transfer to A&T. Stephens is from Greensboro and played at Grimsley.
Other recent portal additions for the Aggies include edge Anthony Murphy II (from Howard), linebacker MarQuis Roberts (from Campbell) and running back JT Smith Jr. (from Wofford).
For a complete look at transfers to and from North Carolina A&T, check out our FCS Transfer Tracker HERE.
2025 A&T Football Schedule Will Be A Challenge
It’s quite possible North Carolina A&T will be much improved this coming season but still struggle to string together wins. The Aggies face a difficult 2025 slate, which opens at Tennessee State (9-4 in 2024) and follows with a road trip to Central Florida of the Big XII.
The reigning MEAC champion (South Carolina State) and runner-up (North Carolina Central) return to the non-conference schedule. A&T suffered lopsided losses to both in 2024.
The Aggies dodge the top five teams from the ‘24 CAA standings – Richmond and Delaware have left the conference – but still will play five conference teams that finished with winning records a season ago.
Date Opponent Time Aug. 30 at Tennessee State Sept. 6 at Central Florida Sept. 13 vs Hampton* Sept. 20 vs. North Carolina Central Sept. 27 at Maine* Oct. 4 at William & Mary* Oct. 11 vs South Carolina State Oct. 25 vs Campbell* Nov. 1 vs Towson* Nov. 8 at Stony Brook* Nov. 15 vs Monmouth* Nov. 22 at Elon* * denotes CAA game
