Football 7/8/2022 9:00:00 AM MSU Athletic Communications

MSU football coach Damon Wilson hires a running backs coach, also a defensive pass game coordinator

BALTIMORE, Md. – Morgan State head coach Damon Wilson has announced two staff hires, as David Fant Jr. has been named running backs coach, and Omarr Smith rejoins the Bears where he will serve as defensive pass game coordinator and cornerback coach.

Fant comes to Morgan after spending eight seasons on Wilson's staff at Bowie State, while Smith worked as defensive backs coach for the Bears under Tyrone Wheatley the past two seasons.

"Coach Fant has worked with me for the last seven years after being a high school head coach and an administrator in Prince George's County," said Wilson. "He has demonstrated to be a great teacher and has had several running backs to have very good college careers. He has demonstrated support for student success not only on the field but in the classroom as well. He is a great addition to our program."

"Coach Smith is the only coach that was retained from the previous staff," added Wilson. "He is a player's coach that is full of knowledge and has the ability to develop talent. Coach Smith did an outstanding job with the players as the University was going through the process of hiring a coach."

Wilson will continues to fill remaining positions on both sides of the ball.

Here's a quick look at the new assistant coaches:

Name: David Fant Jr.

Title: Running Backs

Coaching Experience: David Fant Jr. enters his 1st season at Morgan State where he will be coaching the running backs.

In his previous assignment at Bowie State University, (2014-2021) Fant began his tenure responsible for coaching the tight ends (2014-2018). Under his leadership, he was able to produce two (CIAA) 1^st Team All-Conference Tight Ends. (Detroit Lions/Buffalo Bills) Khari Lee (2014) and Dushon David (2019).

Over the past three seasons (2019-2021), Fant was instrumental in the development and success of a backfield that featured the 2021 (CIAA) Conference Championship MVP and rushing leader Calil Wilkins, who became the second Bulldog in program history to reach the final eight of Harlon Hill Trophy candidates. Crediting his leadership, Fant also served as the running backs coach for the victorious Team Gaither in the inaugural 2022 HBCU Legacy Bowl.

Fant brings a wealth of experience to the Bear family shaped through a total of 25 years in coaching at the high school and collegiate levels of play collectively. Prior to Bowie, Fant worked in the Prince George's County Public Schools system as an athletic director and head football coach at Largo High School (2008-2014), offensive coordinator/receiver coach at Dr. Henry A. Wise High School (2007-2008), secondary and receiver coach at Frederick Douglass High School (1999-2001), (2003-2006), offensive coordinator/receivers coach at Montgomery Rockville Junior College (2002) and running backs coach at Southern Durham High (1997-1999).

Fant earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art/Visual Communications from North Carolina Central University and a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus. He shares his life as the proud husband to Shanae K. Fant. and devoted father to their three sons David III, Dilan, and Kenneth.

Fant is certified through the NIAAA/MSADA as a High School Athletic Administrator, MSDE (classroom instructor), an active member of the American Football Coaches Association and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

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Name: Omarr Smith

Title: Defensive Pass Game Coordinator/Cornerbacks

Coaching Experience: Omarr Smith was named Morgan State's defensive backs coach in March 2020 by Morgan State head coach Tyrone Wheatley.

Smith spent three seasons as the head coach of the Baltimore Brigade of the Arena Football League. His start in the AFL came with the San Jose Saber Cats, where he aided the team to three Arena Bowl titles between 2000 and 2008. He also participated in one season with the Tampa Bay Storm in 2003, where that team also won an Arena Bowl title.

Smith began coaching in the af2 following his 2008 season as a defensive back with the San Jose SaberCats. He served as defensive coordinator for the Arizona Rattlers and offensive coordinator/assistant head coach for his old San Jose SaberCats team. His first head coaching job came with the Los Angeles KISS in 2016, leading them to a 7-9 record. After the KISS folded, he became the head coach of the expansion Baltimore Brigade in 2017.

A native of Torrance, California, Smith attended Bishop Montgomery High School and earned all-league honors in football, basketball and track. His skills earned him a football scholarship to San Jose State University where he played all four years and recorded 13 career interceptions, the second-most in school history.

After graduating from San Jose State, Smith joined the AFL where he was a key part to three championship seasons with the San Jose SaberCats in 2002, 2004 and 2007. He was also with the Tampa Bay Storm during their championship season in 2003. Smith's famed career ended after his 9th season in the AFL. He tallied an impressive 35 interceptions, 88 pass breakups and 8 defensive touchdowns.

As a player and assistant coach, Smith has accumulated seven Arena Bowl victories, which ties Tim Marcum as the most for any person affiliated with the AFL.

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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

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