Virginia Union University's head football coach Mark James has completed forming his inaugural support staff, it was announced on Wednesday, February 12.  James' assistant coaches include a former assistant coach from NCAA Division I Auburn University, a former assistant coach from Division I University of Wyoming, and a former assistant coach at Hampton University and Florida A&M University.



Mike Fanoga spent three  seasons on Dave Christensen's staff at Wyoming starting in 2010. He will once again coach the Panthers' outside linebackers. Fanoga will be coaching in his 27th season at the college level in 2014. He began his college-coaching career in 1987 at his alma mater, the University of Texas-El Paso. Prior to coming to Wyoming, he was the associate head coach and defensive line coach at New Mexico State for four seasons from 2005-08.

At New Mexico State, Fanoga helped coach an Aggie defense that ranked No. 1 in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and No. 3 in the nation in pass defense in 2008, allowing only 159.4 yards per game. New Mexico State also ranked No. 5 in the WAC in total defense, giving up 379.6 yards per game. The NMSU defense gave up an average of only 20.7 first downs per game -- third best in the conference.

He coached under head coach Hal Mumme at New Mexico State. Fanoga has a long coaching relationship with Mumme, also coaching with him at the University of Kentucky, Valdosta State (Ga.) and Iowa Wesleyan. While at Kentucky, Fanoga was part of a coaching staff that helped guide the Wildcats to back-to-back bowl appearances in 1998 and `99. Kentucky played in the Outback Bowl following the 1998 season and the Music City Bowl at the conclusion of the 1999 campaign.

Between Fanoga's coaching stops at Kentucky (1997-1999) and New Mexico State (2005-08), he coached the defensive line for five seasons at Western Kentucky (2000-04). Over that five-year span, the Hilltoppers earned their way into the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs each of those five seasons, and captured the 2002 National Championship with a 12-3 record. WKU defeated McNeese State, 34-14, in the I-AA National Championship game. In 2002, the Hilltopper defenders ranked No. 11 in the nation in scoring defense (allowing only 16.4 points per game to opponents), were No. 23 in total defense (279.2 yards per game) and were No. 27 in rushing defense (118.9 yards per game).

At Valdosta State from 1994-96, Fanoga served as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. His stay with the Blazers was highlighted by a 1996 season that saw Valdosta State reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Playoffs after posting a 10-2 record and capturing the Gulf South Conference Championship. In 1994, the Blazers posted an 11-2 mark and were ranked as high as No. 6 in the nation, led by a defensive unit that ranked No. 2 in the country in scoring defense.

His last stop was at Benedict College.

In addition to his over 20 years of college coaching experience, on two different occasions Fanoga participated in the National Football League (NFL) Fellowship program. He served fellowships with the Miami Dolphins in 1998 and Philadelphia Eagles in 2002. The program provides college coaches the opportunity to work with NFL organizations during the offseason to gain insight into the operations of NFL teams and NFL coaching staffs. Fanoga completed his bachelor's degree in social work at UTEP in 1986. He later earned his master's degree in physical education in 1988, also from UTEP. Fanoga lettered each of his two seasons as a linebacker at UTEP in 1985 and `86, and played against the Wyoming Cowboys twice. In 1985, Fanoga faced the Pokes in the final regular-season game of the season in Melbourne, Australia. The 1986 season saw Fanoga and his Miners travel to Laramie, Wyo. Prior to attending Texas-El Paso, he spent his first two years of college at Snow Community College in Ephraim, Utah, where he played linebacker for the 1983 and `84 seasons.

A native of American Samoa, Fanoga brings a strong background in recruiting Polynesian student-athletes. He and his wife, Soana, have one daughter, Sydney.



Toriano J. Morgan will enter his first season working with the Virginia Union Offense. The Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. native graduated from Tennessee State University in 2002 with a BS in Communications and a Masters in Administration. While at Tennessee State, Morgan became a three year lettermen at WR, was the team captain in 2000, and helped lead the Tigers to Back to Back OVC Championships in 1998 and 1999 and obtain a #1 National Ranking.

After his playing career concluded he remained with the program as an assistant working with Wide Receivers. Toriano returned to South Florida and made stops at three prominent High Schools as their Offensive Coordinator. In  his most recent stop at McArthur High School his Offense helped turn this program from a 0-19 program to the to a 7-3 record in just one season. The Mustang Offense ranked 3rd in the state of Florida averaging over 400 yds per game and 32 ppg and also produced the state's 2nd leading passer who passed for 2800 yds and 24 TDS.

Toriano is married to Adeline Roberts-Morgan and they are expecting their first child in August.



Aaron Taylor is entering his first season as the Running Backs coach for the Virginia Union football program.
This season will be Taylor's 10th season of collegiate coaching after having spent seven seasons (2001-07) on the Hampton University football coaching staff, four at Florida A&M and last season at Fayetteville State.

During his tour at Hampton, Taylor served in the various roles having tutored the running backs, tight ends and tackles for three seasons; as well as four years with defensive line.

Taylor worked with numerous all-conference performers that led the Hampton defense, which ranked amongst the best in the country. With the Pirates defensive unit leading Division I-AA (FCS) in turnovers forced in 2004, Hampton was able to capture its third MEAC championship.

In 2005, his first season overseeing the running backs, he aided Alonzo Coleman and Ardell Daniels in becoming just the third duo in Division I FCS history to rush for 1,000 yards each in consecutive seasons.

The past two seasons at FAMU, he tutored two of the top runners in the MEAC - quarterback Curtis Pulley and running back Philip Sylvester.

Taylor, who was born in Charleston, IL, is the oldest son of Head Coach Joe Taylor. He is a graduate of Phoebus (VA) High School where he was a four-year letterman in football.

He earned his bachelor's degree in History/Political Science from Virginia State University and was also a member of the Trojans' football team. His outstanding senior campaign as an offensive guard garnered him All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) honors.
 


Wes Murphy enters his first season at Virginia Union University as the offensive line coach/recruiting coordinator under Head Coach Mark James. Murphy joins the VUU staff after one season as the Quality Control and the Assistant Director of Player Development at Auburn University in Auburn, Ala.

While at Auburn, the Tigers won the 2013 SEC Championship and had a BCS Championship berth. During this season Murphy's duties ranged from but were not limited to assisting the defensive line coach as well as other coaches with weekly/daily duties to monitoring the attendance of student-athletes on a daily basis.

Before making the move to Auburn, Murphy spent the 2012-2013 seasons on the Arkansas State staff during the Red Wolves' 2012 Sun Belt Championship Season.  While on staff with the Wolves Murphy assisted in several facets of the program such as assistant tight end coach, on campus recruiting coordinator and player development.

Prior to joining Arkansas State as an assistant tight end coach, Murphy served one season as the defensive line and assisted the offensive line coach as well as strength and conditioning coach at Fellowship Christian High School in Roswell, GA.

As a college football player at the University of Arkansas from 2002-2007, Murphy was a four-year letterman and received several honors such as First Wildcat Tight End; he began his career as a defensive end for the Razorbacks.  After his collegiate career, Murphy spent time in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs (2007).

A native of Cuthbert, Ga; Murphy earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Arkansas.

BOWL EXPERIENCE:
2014 ¦BCS National Championship2012 ¦Godaddy.com Bowl
2007 ¦Capital One Bowl
2003 ¦Independence Bowl
2002 ¦Music City Bowl



Josef Harrison is an alumni of Virginia Union University, class of 2013. Harrison will be entering the 2014 season as VUU's defensive line coach.  He also worked as an assistant for defensive line quality control, and assistant recruiting coordinator. During his time as a student Harrison played both as an interior and exterior defensive lineman.  Josef earned Bachelor of Arts degree in History/ Political science and a minor in religious studies.

Harrison was born in Baltimore, Maryland and graduated from Woodlawn Senior High School in 2008. He was raised by a "village" as he would explain it, considering he had numerous positive influences throughout his life. His Mother, Darlene, and Sisters Leshia, Danna, and Von and their families have been a very solid support cast throughout the years.  Harrison has dedicated himself to empowering inner city youth,  as in January of 2014 he was made the Executive Director of the nonprofit  mentoring organization called S.O.N.S which stands for "Saving Our Nations Seeds". 



Andre LeBlanc played for Virginia Union University from 2007-2011. He was a four- year starter, and was named team captain twice.  He also named to the All-CIAA Team twice and was named the 2007 CIAA Defensive Rookie of the Year.  LeBlanc also earned All-Rookie honors in 2007 and ranked first in the CIAA in interceptions in 2007.  He graduated from VUU in 2013.

LeBlanc was head coach at Elko Middle School in Sandston, Va., last year and was an assistant at Elko Middle for two years prior to that.  He was an assistant coach at Highland Springs High School in Richmond, Va., in 2012. 
LeBlanc graduated from Stephenson High School in Georgia after lettering in football for three years.  He also lettered in track & field twice. 

LeBlanc was born in Battle Creek, Mich., the eldest sone of Andre LeBlanc and DeVonna Fields-LeBlanc.



Trumaine Watson will be coaching his first season as the Virginia Union University strength & conditioning coach. Watson is a native of Kannapolis, NC. 

Watson received his Strength & Conditioning Certification on November 17, 2013, by the National Strength & Conditioning Association.

He is the son of Clayton and Priscilla Watson. Watson is an alumnus of Virginia Union University, where he was played center for the Panthers. Watson was a member of the 2007 CIAA Eastern Division Champs.  He anchored an offensive line that set a number of CIAA rushing records in back to back years.   Watson was also a part of the Offensive Line that broke a CIAA record against Virginia State with 495 yards in one game.   Watson coached at Highland Springs High School where he was the offensive line coach from 2011-2014.



A native of Haw River, N.C., and a graduate of Graham High School, Velasquez lettered in five sports. Velasquez earned himself a scholarship to attend Virginia Union University after kicking for only one season. He was a four-year starter at place kicker and pulled double-duty as punter his senior year. Velasquez was named to the CIAA All-Rookie Team after his freshman season and named All-CIAA 2nd team after his senior season to go along with being named Special Teams Player of the Week on six occasions. 



Sam Davis became Equipment Manager for the Virginia Union University football team prior to the 2004 season.
Davis oversees the equipment inventory for the VUU football team.

Prior to coming to VUU, Davis was head baseball coach at John Marshall High School in Richmond, Va., from 1970-1995.  Davis was also an assistant football coach and assistant softball coach at John Marshall High School during that same time.

Davis coached linebackers and defensive backs while at John Marshall.

Davis graduated from Claflin University in 1961 with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Mathematics.

A native of Richmond, Va., Davis graduated from Maggie L. Walker High School in 1956.



Bernard Rucker has been working with the Virginia Union University training staff since 1970.  In those 44 years, Rucker has also held the positions of Head Bowling Coach and Head Softball Coach.

For the past 35 years, Rucker has been the Assistant to the Head Athletic Trainer where he helps keep the student-athletes of the Virginia Union sports program in and shape and helps mentor the VUU student-athletes.

Rucker has attended Pro camps as well as different sports clinics to keep his skills in compliance by helping the student-athletes stay in shape. 

Rucker has worked for several different coaches at VUU and will continue in helping the Panther program to succeed.