Joseph Grah is a proud alum of Cumberland University. Graduating with his master’s and holds membership in several honors societies such as Omicron Delta Kappa, Alpha Chi, and Alpha Lambda Delta. Mr. Grah was also named instrumentalist and Jazz instrumentalist of the year in the years 2020 – 2022. Mr. Grah worked initially as a private instructor in the Wilson County area and as the GA for the music department at CU. Now serving as the director of the Athletic Bands, Mr. Grah brings his experience as an alumnus to the program with a focus on sound and leadership development.

Coleman was a member of the 2021-22 national tournament team that finished the season 22-9. Over his three seasons on the team, he averaged 5.7 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game, and 2.0 assists.

His senior season, he scored 201 points while hauling in 257 rebounds, 8.7 per game and had 74 assists as a forward. He also broke the program-record in rebounds in single game hauling in 23 boards against Wilberforce.

Coleman spent the 2023-24 working as a volunteer assistant for Coach Evans. Coleman helped coach the conference’s leading scorer. He was primarily responsible for player development, scouting, and recruiting while working as a volunteer.

John Downing is entering his first season as the Defensive Line Coach at Cumberland University. The Toledo, OH native most recently served as the Offensive Line Quality Control at FCS member Big South-OVC Champion Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC, where the OL ranked second in the conference in Rushing and had 3 All-Conference selections.

Before Gardner-Webb, Coach Downing assisted Travis Knight with the Defensive Line at Wingate University during two stints (2020-2021 & 2022-2023), including a 2022 that saw Wingate University set school records in Sacks (60), TFLs (141) which also led the nation, Wins (11), highest ranked Defense (#3 nationally), deepest playoff run (3rd round), and highest final ranking (#15 AFCA). The last two SAC Defensive Players of the Year were Defensive Ends from Wingate University (DJ Horne – 2022 & Marquise Fleming – 2023).

In between his stints at Wingate University, he led the Defensive Line at Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, FL where he mentored DE Jaren Wilson who competed in the HBCU Legacy Bowl in February, 2023.

He got his start in collegiate coaching at Johnson C Smith University in Charlotte, NC (2018-2020).

Coach Downing has also served internships with the Jacksonville Jaguars (mini-camp 2023) and FBS member Charlotte (Fall camp 2022) and has also Head Coached 4 collegiate All-Star games, with a 3-1 record, where he has enjoyed helping highlight multiple players that have gone on to sign professional contracts.

Lexi Deguzman is originally from South Mills, North Carolina. She obtained a Bachelors of Science Degree in Exercise Science from Old Dominion University in 2022 with a minor in Human Services and Health and Wellness.

Immediately following undergraduate, Lexi continued her education at ODU and received a Masters of Science in Athletic Training in May of 2024 where she obtained multiple clinical experiences at different levels.

Lexi has completed multiple seasons with Old Dominion University Football and did 1 season as an Athletic Training Student with William and Mary’s Football Program. She also has experience with local High Schools in Virginia working multiple winter/spring sports as well as working in clinic settings such as orthopedics and sports medicine.

Lexi looks forward to beginning my career with Cumberland!

Shawn Henry enters his first season as the Running Backs coach for the Phoenix. Prior to Henry’s arrival he served as the Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach at Doane University in Nebraska for 2 seasons. In his time at Doane he coached 6 Defensive Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) All-conference players, 2 of which were All-conference Defensive Backs. Henry worked at Waldorf University in Forest City, IA before going to Doane. He coached 5 seasons at Waldorf. In his first 2 seasons he coached the Linebackers and coached 2 North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) All-conference Linebackers. In his last 3 seasons Henry coached the Defensive Line and was the CO-Defensive Coordinator. Henry Coached 16 Defensive NSAA All-conference players, 7 of which were Defensive Lineman. He helped the Warriors to a program best 7 and 3 record in 2019 and served as the NSAA Conference Head Video Coordinator. The Warriors defensive ranked in the top 15 in the country in many statistical categories and a combined 20 and 9 record during his last 3 seasons. Before going to Waldorf, Henry spent 4 seasons at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, MO. During his first season there, Henry coached the Defensive Backs. In his last 3 seasons at Culver he worked on the offensive side of the ball assisting coaching the OL and TE’s. In 2016 he helped coach an offense that was 5th in the nation in Total passing offense and he coached a TE who was selected 2 nd team All-conference in the Heart of America Conference.

From 2009 to 2013 Henry coached at SUNY Cortland in Cortland, NY. During his 5 seasons there he coached many different positions. Henry coached QBs, WRs and RBs in his first 2 seasons helping the Red Dragons to a 10 and 2 record and a 2 nd round NCAA playoff appearance in 2010. Henry then moved to coaching the OL in 2011 and finished his last 2 seasons coaching the LBs helping the Red Dragons to a 9 and 2 record and advancing to the 2 nd round of the NCAA playoffs in 2012 his college coaching career started as a student assistant at his alma mater, Alfred State college where he was an offensive assistant coaching QBs and WRs. Henry earned his Associate’s in Computer Information Systems from Alfred State College in 2000 and earned a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from Alfred University in 2002.