Morgan State Bears Hire Mike Fanoga As Defensive Coordinator

COURTESY MSU ATHLETICS

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- The Morgan State Bears announced today that they have named Mike Fanoga as their defensive coordinator.

Fanoga assumes the role of defensive coordinator entering his 28th season of coaching the collegiate level, having spent the previous season at Virginia Union as the defensive coordinator. The Panther completed the season ranked No. 1 in rush defense (93.6), No. 2 in scoring defense (18.8) and No. 2 in total yards allowed (290.9).

Fanoga will take over a Bears defensive unit that ranked 6th overall in total yards allowed per game (356.7) in 2014, including No. 7 in scoring defense (26.5) and a No. 10 ranking in rushing yards allowed per game (203.2).

"We are very excited to have Mike Fanoga as our defensive coordinator," said Lee Hull, entering his second season as MSU's head coach. "He brings vast experience from different levels – FBS, FCS and Division II.

"We look for him to improve our defense," said Hull. "We need to get back to the top of the MEAC and I think he is the right guy to lead us in this direction."

Prior to Virginia Union, Fanoga worked as defensive line coach and linebacker coach at Division II member Benedict College (2012-13), followed by a stop at Lane College in 2011.

Fanoga spent three seasons on Dave Christensen's staff at Wyoming where he coached the Cowboys outside linebackers from 2009-2011. He coached linebacker Weston Johnson, who went on to sign a free-agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL. Johnson recorded 106 tackles his senior season, and led the team in tackles for losses (13.0) and interceptions (three).

At New Mexico State, Fanoga was the associate head coach and defensive line coach for four seasons from 2005-08. He helped coach an Aggie defense that ranked No. 1 in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and No. 3 in the nation in pass defense in 2008, allowing only 159.4 yards per game. New Mexico State also ranked No. 5 in the WAC in total defense, giving up 379.6 yards per game. The NMSU defense gave up an average of only 20.7 first downs per game -- third best in the conference.

He coached under head coach Hal Mumme at New Mexico State. Fanoga has a long coaching relationship with Mumme, also coaching with him at the University of Kentucky, Valdosta State (Ga.) and Iowa Wesleyan.

While at Kentucky, Fanoga was part of a coaching staff that helped guide the Wildcats to back-to-back bowl appearances in 1998 and `99. Kentucky played in the Outback Bowl following the 1998 season and the Music City Bowl at the conclusion of the 1999 campaign.

Between Fanoga's coaching stops at Kentucky (1997-1999) and New Mexico State (2005-08), he coached the defensive line for five seasons at Western Kentucky (2000-04). Over that five-year span, the Hilltoppers earned their way into the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs each of those five seasons, and captured the 2002 National Championship with a 12-3 record. WKU defeated McNeese State, 34-14, in the I-AA National Championship game. In 2002, the Hilltopper defenders ranked No. 11 in the nation in scoring defense (allowing only 16.4 points per game to opponents), were No. 23 in total defense (279.2 yards per game) and were No. 27 in rushing defense (118.9 yards per game).

At Valdosta State from 1994-96, Fanoga served as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. His stay with the Blazers was highlighted by a 1996 season that saw Valdosta State reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Playoffs after posting a 10-2 record and capturing the Gulf South Conference Championship. In 1994, the Blazers posted an 11-2 mark and were ranked as high as No. 6 in the nation, led by a defensive unit that ranked No. 2 in the country in scoring defense.

He coached the defensive line and special teams at Iowa Wesleyan from 1990-93. His 1991 Iowa Wesleyan squad earned a berth in the NAIA Division I Playoffs, and finished the season ranked No. 7 in the country in the final NAIA rankings.

Prior to that, he was an assistant coach at Livingston University in Livingston, Ala., from 1989-90.

In addition to almost 30 years of college coaching experience, on two different occasions Fanoga participated in the National Football League (NFL) Fellowship program. He served fellowships with the Miami Dolphins in 1998 and Philadelphia Eagles in 2002. The program provides college coaches the opportunity to work with NFL organizations during the offseason to gain insight into the operations of NFL teams and NFL coaching staffs.

Fanoga, a native of American Samoa, is a former linebacker who initially played at Snow Community College in Ephraim, Utah from 1983 to 1984 before transferring to UTEP, where he earned varsity letters in 1985 and 1986 and earned a bachelor's degree in social work. He began his college-coaching career at UTEP from 1987-88.

Fanoga and his wife, Soana, have one daughter, Sydney.

Bear Note:
MSU's additional coaching move includes the promotion of offensive line coach Dwayne Foster to assistant head coach.

COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION