Football coaching staff named at Hampton University

Photo: Hampton University Head Football Coach Jerry Holmes

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Jerry Holmes, head football coach, Hampton University has retained four assistant coaches from Joe Taylor's previous staff.

Coach Taylor, named head football coach at Florida A&M University is taking former Hampton running backs coach Aaron Taylor (his son), and offensive line coach Lawrence Kershaw to the Rattlers program. Kershaw is under consideration by Taylor to become offensive coordinator at FAMU.

Coach Holmes has promoted 17 season veteran Donovan Rose to defensive coordinator. Rose has been an assistant coach for the duration with the Pirates program, and served previously as the assistant head coach/secondary coach for the past five years. He is a 1979 Hampton University graduate.

Corey Sullivan was named offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach. The 2002 Tennessee State University graduate is in his second season with the Pirates and his offense scored 29.9 ppg, leading the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in 2007.

Roy Johnson, quarterbacks coach will also remain on the Pirates staff. Johnson is a former Pirates quarterback and 1999 graduate of Hampton University, who is in his second season with the program. Prior to coming to Hampton, Johnson spent six years as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Meadowcreek High School and Redan High Schools in Georgia. He is second all-time at Hampton in passing yards (7,086) and completions (502), while ranking fourth in touchdown passes with 45.

Devan Hill is in his fifth year working as a defensive backs coach for the Pirates. The 2000 Hampton University graduate has committed to remain on Coach Holmes staff. He was a four-year letterman (1996-99) and two-year starter at cornerback for Joe Taylor and the Pirates.


Florida A&M University will receive Lawrence Kershaw and Aaron Taylor on Joe Taylor's Rattlers staff.

Photo: FAMU Football Coach Lawrence Kershaw

Coach Kershaw is a 1995 graduate of Virginia State University. He spent 2007 at Hampton University as the offensive line coach. He served in the same capacity in 2006 at Truman State in Missouri.

Prior to that, Kershaw spent two seasons at Virginia Union University where he was the assistant head coach and offensive line coach, in addition to being the recruiting coordinator and organizing the strength and conditioning program.

Kershaw was also an assistant coach for seven years at Virginia State University of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), where he helped the Trojans win two conference titles. There he served as the running backs coach in 1995, the offensive line coach in 1996-97 and 2000-03, and the offensive coordinator from 2001-03.

In 2000, 2002 and 2003, Kershaw’s offensive line was the best in the CIAA in sacks allowed, while the Virginia State offense also led the conference in numerous offensive categories. From 1995-2003 the program produced 25 all-conference players on offense, including 13 first team selections and three offensive players of the year.

Kershaw also has one year of coaching experience at Fordham University, where he was a volunteer assistant offensive line coach in 1998 for the NCAA Division I FCS program.

Kershaw started his collegiate playing career at Stony Brook where in 1990 he was named to the All-Liberty Conference football team. He played his final two seasons at Virginia State in 1993 and 1994.

Kershaw graduated from Virginia State in 1995 with a bachelor of arts in sociology and in 1997 he received his masters of education in guidance from VSU.

Photo: FAMU Football Coach Aaron Taylor

Aaron Taylor served seven years on Joe Taylor's Hampton University staff. Last season he served as the running backs coach, after spending time coaching the tight ends and tackles, as well as four years coaching the defensive line.

During his tenure on the defensive side of the ball, Taylor worked with numerous all-conference performers to lead a Hampton defense that ranked amongst the best in the country. With the Pirates’ defensive unit leading Division I-AA 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 Charleston, Illinois native and oldest son of head coach Joe Taylor is a graduate of Phoebus High School (Va.) where he was a four-year letterman in football.

In 2001 he earned his bachelor’s degree in history/political science from Virginia State University where he also was a member of the Trojans’ football team. His outstanding senior campaign as an offensive guard garnered him All-CIAA honors.

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