Tony Coaxum | Bluefield State College

Tony Coaxum was named the Head Coach of the Bluefield State Football program on October 9, 2020. Coaxum comes to BSC from the University of Northern Colorado where he was the Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach. Prior to Northern Colorado, Coach Coaxum served as a Senior Special Teams Analyst at Kansas under Les Miles. His other stops include one season at Central Michigan University as Special Teams Coordinator and Cornerbacks Coach (2018), Denver Broncos Assistant Special Teams Coordinator (2015-2017), Baltimore Ravens Special Teams Assistant (2014), and Army West Point Linebackers and Cornerbacks Coach (2007-14). Coaxum participated in the NFL's Bill Walsh Minority Fellowship Program with the New York Giants (2008) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012). 

During Coaxum's lone season at Kansas, Punter Kyle Thompson was named as a Ray Guy Watch List Finalist and was 20th nationally in punt average at 44.5 per punt. Kansas also had the #1 kickoff coverage unit in the Big 12. 

While at Central Michigan, Coaxum mentored Kicker Ryan Tice to becoming a Lou Groza semifinalist in his 1st year as a starter and an overall 80% FG conversion rate. Tice was also named 2nd Team All-MAC. True freshman Kobe Lewis averaged just over 22 yards per kickoff return. Defensively, Coaxum coached a pair of 1st Team All-MAC players in Sean Murphy-Bunting and Xavier Crawford who both were 2019 NFL Draft picks: Murphy-Bunting (39th overall) to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Crawford (195th overall) to the Houston Texans. That season, the Chippewas were the #1 Pass defense in the MAC and ranked #3 Nationally. 

During his stint at his Alma Mater, Coaxum coached a secondary that finished in the Top 5 in Pass Defense on 2 occasions (3rd-2009, 5th-2011). Coach Coaxum demonstrated a strong ability to develop players quickly as he mentored 4 players to take starting roles as true freshmen at the Army West Point. He also showed the ability to develop leaders as 3 of his players went on to be voted team captains while another was named Brigade Captain (highest ranking cadet) of the Corps of Cadets.

During his time with the Baltimore Ravens, Coaxum help coach special team units that led NFL in kickoff return average (28.3) and net punt average (43.3) and 3rd in NFL in gross punt average (47.4). 

The Denver Broncos finished the 2015 season ranked #7 in NFL Overall Special Teams Ranking (Gosselin Rankings) and played an integral role in winning the franchise's 3rd World Championship in Super Bowl 50. During his time, Broncos special team units returned a punt for a TD and blocked 2 field goals. During SB 50, Broncos set a record with the longest punt return in Super Bowl history with a 61-yard return by Jordan Norwood.

Coaxum is passionate about leadership and mentoring and is a published author. His book "The Leadership Playbook: Leadership guide from a former Army officer and Super Bowl Champion Coach" is currently on Amazon.

Coaxum was a 3-year starter at cornerback for the Army Football team and ran track. He sits tied for 4th All-Time for Pass Breakups in a single season, tied for 10th All-Time for Pass Defended in a single season and tied for 14th All-Time in career Pass Breakups. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Coaxum graduated in May 2000 and was commissioned into the Field Artillery and spent his active duty time at Ft. Bragg, NC. 

Tony Coaxum is a native of Charleston, SC and was recently inducted into his high school R.B Stall's Hall of Fame. He is married to Derrian and they have a son Dura'n, who is currently serving in the Army at Ft. Bragg.