Joseph Grah is a proud alum of Cumberland University. Graduating with his master’s and holds membership in several honors societies such as Omicron Delta Kappa, Alpha Chi, and Alpha Lambda Delta. Mr. Grah was also named instrumentalist and Jazz instrumentalist of the year in the years 2020 – 2022. Mr. Grah worked initially as a private instructor in the Wilson County area and as the GA for the music department at CU. Now serving as the director of the Athletic Bands, Mr. Grah brings his experience as an alumnus to the program with a focus on sound and leadership development.

Coleman was a member of the 2021-22 national tournament team that finished the season 22-9. Over his three seasons on the team, he averaged 5.7 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game, and 2.0 assists.

His senior season, he scored 201 points while hauling in 257 rebounds, 8.7 per game and had 74 assists as a forward. He also broke the program-record in rebounds in single game hauling in 23 boards against Wilberforce.

Coleman spent the 2023-24 working as a volunteer assistant for Coach Evans. Coleman helped coach the conference’s leading scorer. He was primarily responsible for player development, scouting, and recruiting while working as a volunteer.

John Downing is entering his first season as the Defensive Line Coach at Cumberland University. The Toledo, OH native most recently served as the Offensive Line Quality Control at FCS member Big South-OVC Champion Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC, where the OL ranked second in the conference in Rushing and had 3 All-Conference selections.

Before Gardner-Webb, Coach Downing assisted Travis Knight with the Defensive Line at Wingate University during two stints (2020-2021 & 2022-2023), including a 2022 that saw Wingate University set school records in Sacks (60), TFLs (141) which also led the nation, Wins (11), highest ranked Defense (#3 nationally), deepest playoff run (3rd round), and highest final ranking (#15 AFCA). The last two SAC Defensive Players of the Year were Defensive Ends from Wingate University (DJ Horne – 2022 & Marquise Fleming – 2023).

In between his stints at Wingate University, he led the Defensive Line at Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, FL where he mentored DE Jaren Wilson who competed in the HBCU Legacy Bowl in February, 2023.

He got his start in collegiate coaching at Johnson C Smith University in Charlotte, NC (2018-2020).

Coach Downing has also served internships with the Jacksonville Jaguars (mini-camp 2023) and FBS member Charlotte (Fall camp 2022) and has also Head Coached 4 collegiate All-Star games, with a 3-1 record, where he has enjoyed helping highlight multiple players that have gone on to sign professional contracts.

Lexi Deguzman is originally from South Mills, North Carolina. She obtained a Bachelors of Science Degree in Exercise Science from Old Dominion University in 2022 with a minor in Human Services and Health and Wellness.

Immediately following undergraduate, Lexi continued her education at ODU and received a Masters of Science in Athletic Training in May of 2024 where she obtained multiple clinical experiences at different levels.

Lexi has completed multiple seasons with Old Dominion University Football and did 1 season as an Athletic Training Student with William and Mary’s Football Program. She also has experience with local High Schools in Virginia working multiple winter/spring sports as well as working in clinic settings such as orthopedics and sports medicine.

Lexi looks forward to beginning my career with Cumberland!

Shawn Henry enters his first season as the Running Backs coach for the Phoenix. Prior to Henry’s arrival he served as the Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach at Doane University in Nebraska for 2 seasons. In his time at Doane he coached 6 Defensive Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) All-conference players, 2 of which were All-conference Defensive Backs. Henry worked at Waldorf University in Forest City, IA before going to Doane. He coached 5 seasons at Waldorf. In his first 2 seasons he coached the Linebackers and coached 2 North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) All-conference Linebackers. In his last 3 seasons Henry coached the Defensive Line and was the CO-Defensive Coordinator. Henry Coached 16 Defensive NSAA All-conference players, 7 of which were Defensive Lineman. He helped the Warriors to a program best 7 and 3 record in 2019 and served as the NSAA Conference Head Video Coordinator. The Warriors defensive ranked in the top 15 in the country in many statistical categories and a combined 20 and 9 record during his last 3 seasons. Before going to Waldorf, Henry spent 4 seasons at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, MO. During his first season there, Henry coached the Defensive Backs. In his last 3 seasons at Culver he worked on the offensive side of the ball assisting coaching the OL and TE’s. In 2016 he helped coach an offense that was 5th in the nation in Total passing offense and he coached a TE who was selected 2 nd team All-conference in the Heart of America Conference.

From 2009 to 2013 Henry coached at SUNY Cortland in Cortland, NY. During his 5 seasons there he coached many different positions. Henry coached QBs, WRs and RBs in his first 2 seasons helping the Red Dragons to a 10 and 2 record and a 2 nd round NCAA playoff appearance in 2010. Henry then moved to coaching the OL in 2011 and finished his last 2 seasons coaching the LBs helping the Red Dragons to a 9 and 2 record and advancing to the 2 nd round of the NCAA playoffs in 2012 his college coaching career started as a student assistant at his alma mater, Alfred State college where he was an offensive assistant coaching QBs and WRs. Henry earned his Associate’s in Computer Information Systems from Alfred State College in 2000 and earned a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from Alfred University in 2002.

Ryan Stanley began coaching with a college teammate, running their own AAU program. Shortly after, in August of 2021, he joined the coaching staff at Christian Community Schools, a private K-12 school in White House, TN as an Assistant Coach on the Middle School Boys Basketball Team. He was promoted to Head Coach after two years as assistant, improving the team’s record each season. Ryan is the Head Coach of two high school boys’ teams for STARS Basketball Club, a travel organization in Nashville. He has organized and run many skills camps, clinics, open gyms, tryouts, play dates, tournaments, etc. for both programs.

Ryan has also coached both young men and women at National Camps like: Snow Valley Basketball
Camps, Chris Paul’s CP3 National Middle School Combine, and Chris Paul’s CP3 Rising Stars
Camp. These camps feature some of the best coaches and young talent from across the world. Ryan has been a station leader and court evaluator for the CP3NMSC. He is a Native of Nashville, TN and graduated from Hendersonville High School. He played Basketball and Studied Marketing at Mid-Continent University in Mayfield, Kentucky. He also attended Volunteer State Community College.

Dr. Kip Crowder has recently retired from the Barren County School system where he began work in 1999.  Prior to his high school appointment, Kip was the general music teacher and assistant band director at Barren County Middle School.  In addition to his classroom duties, Dr. Crowder conducts the BCHS Marching Band, Pep Band as well as the High School and Middle School Percussion Ensembles.  Under his direction, the Barren County Ensembles have received consistent distinguished ratings at both the State and District level concert band and solo and ensemble festivals.  The BCHS Percussion Ensemble performed at the KMEA Conference in February of 2014.  The competitive marching band placed in finals at the Contest of Champions 10 times and has won the Kentucky Governor’s Cup 8 times. The BCHS Concert Band has placed first at 5 Music in the Parks Festivals and was named the 2010 Grand National Champion of the All-Star Music Festival in Florida for posting the highest score in 12 consecutive weekends of competition.  In 2016, the BCHS Concert Band won the prestigious Revelli Award at the Festivals of Music held in Washington, D.C. as well as placed 3rd overall in the Kentucky State 4A Marching Band Championships.

Entering his first year with the program, Helland was most recently Strength and Conditioning Coordinator at Oconomowoc High School in Wisconsin but brings with him a wealth of experience at a young age. Helland graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education Teaching from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse in 2020.

The Wisconsin native worked as both an intern and volunteer over his four years in college. He spent three years volunteering at his alma mater and impressed at University of Wisconsin – Madison, where he interned for three years.

Soon after receiving his degree, he served as a Strength and Conditioning Coach Intern at the University of South Dakota. It was there that he took on his largest role to date, assisting with workouts for football, men’s basketball, women’s soccer, and track and field.

Since graduating in 2020, Helland has continued to work at his craft as well. In 2021 he received his certification from the National Strength & Conditioning Association as a Strength & Conditioning Specialist, adding onto his USA Weightlifting Level One Sports Performance Coach status.

Bobby Brown starts his 10th season as an assistant coach at Cumberland University in 2022. He primarily works with the defensive backs and is in the booth on game days.

Prior to working with defensive backs, Brown coached the Phoenix Running Backs. CU running backs averaged 126.2 yards per game and scored 17 touchdowns during a 7-4 campaign in 2013. Fullback Michael Nwokoji garnered First Team All-Mid-South Conference honors while amassing 523 yards on 120 carries with seven TDs in just seven games before an injury cut his season short. Fredrel Cross posted 450 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 6.7 yards-per-carry in only four contests in the back field.

In 2014 Cumberland averaged 201.5 yards per game on the ground, with Blake DeBoard leading the running back group with 458 yards and four touchdowns in nine outings, earning First Team All-MSC accolades. Fullbacks Brandon Mallory and George Nwokoji combined for 421 yards and seven touchdowns as well.

CU ranked 29th nationally in total rushing offense (2,021 yards) and 31st in rushing offense per game (183.7) in 2015 behind 691 yards and six touchdowns from Austin Chaplin, who earned Second Team All-MSC West Division honors. Moses Cornelius rushed for 499 yards and six TDs in the final six games of the year as well.

In 2016 the Phoenix ranked 11th in the country in rushing offense per game (232.4) and 13th in total rushing offense (2,556), with five players finishing with more than 330 yards on the ground. Dezmon Huntley paced the club with 745 yards and six touchdowns in just seven games while Kris Parker led the club with eight rushing TDs and posted 343 yards on just 64 attempts, 5.4 yards-per-carry.

This past season the Phoenix ranked sixth in the nation in rushing offense per game (260.7) and total rushing offense (2,868). Thirty-five of the team’s 54 touchdowns were scored on the ground, with sophomore Kimlee North earning First Team All-Mid-South Conference honors and Parker adding Second Team accolades. The duo combined for 1,141 yards and 11 touchdowns (515 yards on 72 carries, 7.2 yards-per-attempt, eight touchdowns for North).

The Watertown, Tenn., native is no stranger to the middle Tennessee area, serving nine seasons as head coach at Lebanon High School and eight years as an assistant coach at Trousdale County High School.

While at LHS, he served as Assistant Principal, teacher and head coach for two years and Assistant Principal, Co-Athletic Director and head coach for three years. Brown posted a 44-51 mark at Lebanon, with three teams finishing with winning records: 2003 (6-5), 2004 (9-3) and 2006 (6-5). Four of his teams advanced to the TSSAA postseason.

In 2010 the Blue Devils rushed for 3,042 yards, the high-water mark for the past 25 years, and averaged 26.5 points per game. Brown’s nine-year tenure at Lebanon was the longest at the local school since the mid 1960’s. Prior to his stint at LHS, he was an assistant coach for eight seasons (six as defensive coordinator) at Trousdale County under Clint Satterfield.

Brown received his bachelor’s in Business Education with a minor in Secondary Education and Business Administration from Middle Tennessee State University in 1994. He earned a master’s in Administration and Supervision from Tennessee Tech in 2000. He also received a Specialist in Education Degree in Instructional Leadership from Tennessee Tech in 2010.