Benton Harold enters his first season as tight ends coach and special teams coordinator under head coach Damon Wilson. Harold comes to Morgan after serving as the tight ends and special teams coordinator at Alabama State.
Harold coached a pair of BOXTOROW All-Americans in tight end Terrance Ellis and punter Aubrey Grace. The Hornets also had Ezra Gray named All-SWAC as a return specialist. In 2019, the Hornets had senior punter Anthony Craven earn All-America honors and was named to the Ray Guy Watch List (Punter of the Year) in 2019. The Hornets also had Ezra Gray named all-conference as a return specialist. Offensively, the tight ends for the Hornets combined for 30 receptions in 2019 and 17 in 2020.
The veteran coach served 19 years at Morgan State in a pair of capacities, including 13 as the special teams coordinator/tight ends coach. He also served six years as the linebackers coach for Morgan State beginning in 1998.
During his time at Morgan State, Harold – known as “Sport” – led the Morgan State special teams. In 2016, the Bears finished 26th in the nation kickoff returns and 40th in punt returns. William King was fourth in the conference (47th in the nation) in combined kick returns with 556 yards, and 10th in the nation in kickoff returns (first in the MEAC) at 27.7 yards per return. He also coached Alex Raya who was among the best in kicking in the conference, sixth in the MEAC in field goal percentage.
The Bears finished 29th in the country in blocked punts with one, while they also finished 43rd in the country (fourth in the MEAC) in kickoff return defense and third in the country (second in MEAC) in punt returns. He coached Andrew King, who finished fourth in the nation (third in the conference) in punt return touchdowns in 2015. In 2014, Benton led the Morgan State special teams to a top 75 finish in kickoff return defense (73rd) and kickoff returns (63rd). That same season, the Bears finished 21st in the country in punt returns, and fourth in the MEAC. They also finished fourth in the conference in punt return defense that same season. Orlando Johnson led the MEAC, and was 29th in the country, in combined kick returns with 703 yards, while he finished 32nd in the country and second in the MEAC in kickoff returns (23.4 ypg). He also coached Chris Moller who finished sixth in the field goals per game.
In 2013, Moller led the team in scoring with 56 points (eighth in the MEAC) and ranked fifth in the MEAC in field goals by converting 10-of-16. His redshirt freshman campaign was highlighted by a game-winning field goal against North Carolina A&T on November 9. First Team All-MEAC Lawrence Forbes’ 43.8-yard average ranked as the best in the conference and ninth in the FCS. He also landed 15 “inside the 20” punts, posted 11 punt over 50 yards, including a 78-yard punt at Liberty (September 14). Forbes was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, and was named to the 2013 ECAC Championship Sub-Division All-Star Team.
A number of standouts emerged under Harold’s guidance in 2012. Earvin Gonzalez was one of the top kickers in the league and ranked among the leaders a number of categories: first in field goal percentage (60.9 pct); tied for second in field goals (14-23); tied for second in scoring kicks (67); tied for fourth in scoring (67); third in punting (39.4 yard average) and fourth in point after attempt percentage (96.2). The Bears’ special teams unit ranked second in kickoff returns (23.0) and was led by return specialist Chris Flowers (27.8 avg, TD), Tyrone Hendrix (21.9 avg, TD) and Tubotein Taylor (25.5 avg).
During the 2011 season, the Bears kicking duo of Abraham Mercado and Ervin Gonzalez combined for 51 points and punter Nicholas Adams’ 39.0-yard gross average ranked third in the MEAC. He also posted 20 “inside the 20” punts and suffered only four touchbacks. Collectively, the 2011 special teams unit held opponents to 17.3 yards per kickoff return, ranking second in the MEAC.
In 2010, Kemar Scarlett led Morgan State in scoring with 67 points. He connected on 18-of-24 field goals, including a MEAC record-tying 55-yard field goal at Delaware State in 2008. Punter Nicholas Adams’ 38.5-yard gross average ranked second among the conference leaders. He also posted a school-record 79-yard punt at Delaware State (2008), recorded six punts of over 50 yards, and completed the season by posting 17 “inside the 20.”
The tight end corps proved to be one of the most dependable positions for the Bears. Through his tutelage, Lamont Bryant not turned into an All-MEAC performer, but he also joined the NFL’s Carolina Panthers as a free agent. Harold helped shape the offensive attack with student-athletes such as Nate Ingram (17 rec, 160 yds, 2 TDs in ’13) and Eme Akonawe (3 rec, 50 yds, TD in ’13), along with Willie Gillus II and Charles Harris.
A native of Augusta (Ga.), Harold came to Morgan State, where he spent two years as an intern in the athletic department’s strength and conditioning program. He earned his B.A. degree in Health Services and Sports Management in 1996.
In 1997, Harold arrived Morgan State and became a fixture within the Bears athletic department. He volunteered as an assistant coach with the linebackers and defensive line unit, and worked as an assistant strength and conditioning coach. Harold earned his Master’s degree in 1999, and was hired as an assistant academic advisor in the department.
