Ramal Faunteroy enters his first season as the Bears' defensive line coach.
Faunteroy served nine seasons at Shepherd University as defensive line and strength and conditioning coach. He also served as the Recruiting Coordinator.
In 2021, a pair of Rams gained All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East honors under Faunteroy. Juwan Addison earned first team honors, while Ricky Robinson gained second team honors as the Rams posted a 13-2 overall mark as Super Region One Champions before falling to eventual national champion Ferris State in the semifinal round.
Faunteroy spent three seasons as defensive line coach at Fairmont State University from 2018-20.
In 2019, Faunteroy helped the Falcons rank 18th in the country in tackles for loss (8.4) and 53rd in the country and fourth in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) in sacks per game at 2.40 per outing. The Fairmont State defense also ranked fifth in the country against the run, allowing just 77.7 rushing yards per game, and allowed the eighth fewest first down in NCAA Division II (159). Two members of his defensive line earned All-MEC honors, including defensive end D.J. Adediwura as a first-team selection, and Glenwood Williams as a second-team selection.
In 2018, Faunteroy helped the Falcons to a 9-2 overall record (8-2 MEC) and helped defensive end Josh Ballard and defensive tackle Glenwood Williams earn All-MEC honors as members of the Falcons' defensive front. Ballard was a second team All-MEC selection, while Williams earned MEC honorable mention. The Falcons ranked 44th in the country against the run (131.1), were 36th in the country in red zone defense (.714), and 17th in the country in turnovers forced (25). The Falcons also averaged 1.55 sacks per game during 2018.
Before arriving at Fairmont State, Faunteroy had a one-year stint as Defensive Line Coach/Run Game Defensive Coordinator at Seton Hill University.
Prior to spending the 2017 season at SHU, he spent the 2016 campaign at NCAA Division I Furman University. At Furman, Faunteroy helped the Paladins rank fourth in the league in scoring defense (27.1) and total defense (373) during the season. His defensive line accounted for eight of the team's 12 sacks, 20.5 of their 49 tackles for loss, and 194 total tackles.
Faunteroy was a longtime assistant at Shepherd from 2009-2015.
During his coaching tenure at Shepherd, Faunteroy helped the Rams top NCAA Division II in rushing defense four of his last five years, and in 2015 played a key role in Shepherd's 13-1, national runner-up campaign. His top player in 2015, defensive end Shaneil Jenkins, was named Mountain East Conference Defensive Player of the Year and All-American. Jenkins was also a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award - which is given annually to the top Division II defensive player.
Another former standout under Faunteroy, All-America defensive end Howard Jones, who racked up a school-record 35 sacks at Shepherd, played in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Pittsburgh Steelers
While at Shepherd, Faunteroy coached 19 all-conference selections, eight all-region picks, seven All-Americans and two league defensive players of the year. The Rams won six conference titles during Faunteroy's seven-year tenure.
Faunteroy was among thirty NCAA football coaches selected to attend the 2015 NFL and NCAA Coaches Academy and participated in the Steelers' training camp through the Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship.
Faunteroy was a four-year player for the Rams at defensive end. He was a member of two WVIAC championship teams. He posted a 88 tackles, 20 tackles-for-loss, 7 sacks, 8 pass breakups, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 safeties in his junior and senior seasons. Faunteroy held strength and conditioning records for the defensive ends bench press and power clean.
He later played with the Manchester Wolves of the Arena 2 Football League (A2FL). He started 23 regular season games and three playoff games for the Wolves before an injury cut his career short.
Prior to coming to Shepherd, Faunteroy coached one year at Hedgesville High School.
Faunteroy is a 2011 Shepherd graduate. He and his wife, Tiffany, have four children, D'Andre, Devyn, Ronté, and Rondell.
The 2022 edition of Morgan State's Football program will begin when they travel to face Georgia Southern on Saturday, September 3. The Bears home-opener will be on Saturday, September 17 when they host Sacred Heart at Hughes Stadium.
The Bears will take on Norfolk State for Homecoming on Saturday, October 8 to open Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference action.
