MSU Farrier adds three to coaching staff

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Morgan State interim head football coach Fred T. Farrier has added three more assistants to his staff.

Ernest T. Jones is the associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator, Antonio James is the defensive line coach, and Mitch Browning is the offensive line coach.

"I'm happy to announce the hiring of Ernest, Mitch and Antonio," Farrier said in a statement. "I'm excited about putting this staff together for the 2016 season. I think any time you hire people to your staff that it is an opportunity to improve the program and leave an impact on your student-athletes."

"As interim coach, I have one opportunity to try to get this right. I think the hires we made and moving some guys around will make an immediate impact on our program."

Jones was previously the head coach at ASA Miami, a two-year college that started its first football season in 2015. He has also spent time at UConn, Notre Dame, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Central Michigan, Concordia, Oberlin, Kentucky State, and has served as head coach for his alma mater Alcorn State.

"Ernest brings a wealth of experience to the program," said Farrier. "He has been a head coach twice and coached at premiere BCS programs. He has recruited all over the country and coached in a BCS national championship game. I look forward to the contributions he will make as a coach, mentor and a recruiter as we work to move the program forward. I believe his recruiting ties and acumen will help us elevate our national recruiting profile.

James joins the Bears after spending time as a defensive graduate assistant coach at Michigan. Prior to joining U-M, James coached the defensive line and outside linebackers at Urbana High School from 2011-13. He was a four-year letterman on the defensive line at the University of Illinois (2006-09), and helped lead the Fighting Illini to the 2008 Rose Bowl Game.

"Antonio comes highly recommended from a number of highly regarded coaches and coaches I trust," explained Farrier. "He has played and coached in the Big Ten and understands the role he has to play to assist our players to get better. He is eager to make an impact on our young men and I can't wait to see that carry over to the young men on our team."

Browning has been the offensive line coach at Rutgers for the past two seasons. He has 35 years of coaching experience, including stops at six BCS programs and appearances in 12 previous bowl games (seven in 10 years at Minnesota). Browning has recruited 20 players during his career that played in the NFL, including first round draft picks Dana Stubblefield and Laurence Maroney.

"Mitch has coached at the highest levels of college football and been an offensive coordinator at the BCS level," Farrier said. "He has coached in multiple bowl games and prepared many of his pupils for professional football. I look forward to his contributions to our staff room and the impact he will make on his position group. He has recruited guys from all over the country and I look forward to him developing our offensive line."

Farrier also made an additional change to his staff when he moved Travis Manger from offensive line coach to quarterbacks and recruiting coordinator.

"He has experience coaching offensive skill positions and I think he can better impact our program coaching our quarterbacks," said Farrier. "He is very bright and hard working and I think he can assist us in a big way as recruiting coordinator. He develops strong relationships with his players and I look forward to working with him in this new role as we move forward and the contributions he will make."

Farrier's staff also includes: assistant head coach/running backs coach Ken Lucas, defensive coordinator Mike Fanoga, and special teams/tight ends coach Benton Harold.

Morgan State opens its 2016 season with a home-opener against Holy Cross on Sept. 3 before traveling to take on Marshall on Sept. 10. The Bears 2016 schedule features five home games in Hughes Stadium, including a meeting with MEAC co-champion Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 5 in Baltimore.

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