Club Sports Football Coaches
A good coach can be a valuable asset to a Club Sports Team in terms of providing mature judgment and advice based on experience and insight into the sport, league, and community. Ideally, the coach(es) can help provide this leadership without usurping the authority of the student leadership. The primary goal of club sports is always on student development, therefore, the coach(es) should encourage this and allow students to make their own decisions with the guidance of the coach(es).
Kevin Adkins, Head Coach
Head Coach Kevin Adkins enters his 1st season at Clayton State University with high
hopes of winning the South Atlantic Conference and being in the NCFA national championship
contention. As the previous head coach at Gordon State, Adkins has compiled a 29-6
record, including winning the 2022 NCFA National Championship and two consecutive
South Atlantic Conference titles. Coach Adkins was named the 2021 NCFA Coach of the
Year. In 2022, he led Gordon State to a 12-1 record, with a dominating display of
football, outscoring their opponents 407 – 99, including 3 defensive shutouts in rout
to become the 2002 NCFA National Champions. Coach Adkins offense set multiple NCFA
records and finished ranked 2nd in the nation in both total points scored and points
per game average. The Defense led the Nation in Takeaways, total yards allowed, scoring
defense, and was top 3 in almost every other major Defensive category.
Coach Adkins started his Football coaching career at Elite Performance Sports Academy,
where he served 2 years as the offensive coordinator and elevated afterwards as the
defensive coordinator at Point University. His coaching career includes stops at Dutchtown
High School, Christian Community College, and Gordon State before joining the Clayton
State Lakers family. Adkins graduated from Valdosta State University in 2006 with
a bachelor’s degree in business administration and MBA in 2008. Coach Adkins was active
in helping start the Point University football program, in 2011. As Gordon State Head
Coach, Adkins produced 26 All Americans in three years. Adkins volunteers much of
his time working with youth athletes at local camps and clinics.
Christian Lane, Assistant Head Coach
Information about Coach Lane goes here.
Dennis Shoemaker, Offensive Line
Dennis Shoemaker was born on June 30, 1959, in Norwalk, California. He played offensive
guard for the 1976 state Champions Antelope Valley High School in Lancaster, California.
Dennis graduated and attended Antelope Valley Junior College. Dennis started at guard
for two years and received a went to Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas. At Bethany,
Dennis played guard in both his junior and senior years for Head Coach Ted Kessinger
(College Football Hall Famer).
Dennis began his military career in 1980 when he enlisted year in the United States
Army Reserve as a medic. He serviced in the United States Marine Corps for four years.
After leaving the Marine Corps, Coach Shoemaker joined the United States Army in July
1988 where he served as a commissioned Officer for 14 years. Dennis has graduated
from some of the best leadership schools in the world including Marine Corps Basic
Training, Scout Platoon Leaders Course, Special Forces Selection Course, Officers
Candidate School, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, and Army Ranger
School. He currently is coaching the offensive line at Clayton State University, Georgia.
Forty-five percent of his linemen have played at the college level. As an offensive
line coach since 2007, his teams have an overall record of 117 and 38 with one State
Championship, one finalist, one Semi-Finalist, three quarter-finalists, and 8 Region
Championships. Dennis graduated from Augusta University (GA) with a Masters of Arts
in Special Education and is working on a Doctorate Degree at Liberty University. He
has seven years of experience in teaching children with special needs and has never
had a late IEP.
Darvon Ingram, Wide Receivers
Coach Ingram is entering his first season at Clayton State University as assistant
coach. Coach Ingram will be coaching the Wide Receivers and will be serving as the
Passing Game Coordinator. Coach spent two seasons at Gordon State College. Coach Ingram
has over 20 years of coaching experience and will bring a lot to the table. Coach
Ingram attended Baldwin High School and graduated in 1994. As a player he received
many awards Union Recorder Offensive Player of the Year. Playing quarterback, he broke
numerous records with 1,021 yard rushing 21 TD, 750 passing yards 8 TD. Coach Ingram
went to play college football at Hartnell Community College in Salinas, Ca in 1994.
Coach Ingram played one season before transferring to West Hills Community College
in 1995.He received a full scholarship to Southwest State University in 1996. Coach
Ingram started his first coaching career at Georgia Military College from 1999-2004
and won National Championship 2001and National Championship runner-up 2002. Coach
Ingram help produce several All -Americans Wide Receivers and some went on to play
in the NFL. Coach Ingram help start a Youth Football Organization from 2011- 2017.Coach
Ingram received many awards the biggest one is being name GYFC Born to Compete Coach
of the Year one of the biggest youth bowls in Atlanta, Ga. Coach Ingram started coaching
at Georgia Military High school from 2015- 2018 and served as the Offensive Coordinator.
In 2019 Coach Ingram started coaching a 14u Travel Team Augusta Outlaws out of Augusta,
Ga and won YFL National Championship and record 13-1 as the Head Coach. Coach Ingram
went on to coach at Augusta United Graduate Academy first year program 2021. Coach
Ingram was hired at Gordon State College in 2022 and won NCFA National Championship
and served as the Wide Receiver coach. Coach Ingram graduated from Southwest State
University with a B.S in Physical Education (1999).
Wayne Niles, Running Back Coach
Wayne Niles was born in North Little Rock, Arkansas. He graduated from Jacksonville
High School in 1982. He played football and basketball where he was a freshman all
conference wide receiver/cornerback. He was also selected as a two-time Allstate basketball
player. Wayne attended Junior college and played sports two years before starting
his military career. Wayne entered the United States Army in June of 1984 and retired
January 1, 2012. During his Military career he continued his passion and love of football
and basketball. As Head Coach he spearheaded a Battalion football championship and
women basketball championship during his tenure. Wayne military and civilian education
includes Basic Advanced, Primary Leaders Development, Basic Non-Commissioned Officer
course, Advance Non-Commissioned Officer course. Equal Opportunity Leadership (EO)
and various other military schools. Civilian education includes Central Michigan,
Pierce College, WA. Mississippi County Community college, AR, and St Leo University
FL.
Rod Brown, Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties/Special Team
Coach Brown is a former Navy Combat Veteran that joins Laker Nation as Defensive Coordinator/
Special Teams Coordinator/ Safeties Coach. This will be his 7th year of coaching and
was named 2022 NCFA Assistant coach of the year. His is an 2011 graduate of Lamar
County High School in Barnesville, GA and played collegiate football at Albany State
University and Norfolk State University.
Harvey Middelton, Defensive Line
Coach Middleton attended Baptist Hill high school in Hollywood, S.C where he played
Defensive line and offensive line. He’s also a United states Army Veteran and served
a tour in Afghanistan moving to Texas at the age of 17. After departing from the military
coach Middleton played semi-pro football earning 3 championship rings, 1 national
championship, 1 POY award and countless others, he also played at the University Of
Mary-Hardin Baylor current national championships to include playing for team USA.
After retiring from playing he entered the coaching field, He Joined the Gordon state
College football staff as the defensive line coach and athletic trainer for 3 seasons,
defensive line/offensive line coach for trinity christian school varsity and the defensive
coordinator for the middle school team. Coach Middleton prides himself on mentorship
and hardwork with his famous saying…”Bend don't Break!”
Tim Shelley II, Co-Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
Information about Coach Shelley goes here.
Courtney Daniel, Linebackers
Coach Daniel is ready to leave his mark on the Laker Nation. He has coached at the
junior college, high school, and semi-professional levels. As a coached, he had developed
4 All Americans over the last two years. Daniel played all four years of his collegiate
career at Fort Valley State University, and went on to play in the Canadian Football
League(CFL) and Arena Football League (AFL). Coach Daniel earned a Bachelors of Art
Degree at Fort Valley State University and is the owner of a successful vending company.
James Lal, Director of Recruiting
Information about Director Lal goes here.
Oscar Hines, Recruiting Coordinator/Game Day Operations Coordinator
Information about Coordinator Hines goes here.