As the Virginia State Trojans prepare for their first football season under head coach Henry Frazier III, assistant coaches have been named to the staff.
Filling the position of offensive coordinator and assistant head coach is longtime HBCU coach Larry Manigo.
Prior to his coaching career, Manigo played quarterback for Bowie State from 2003-2006 playing under head coach Frazier as a freshman. He previously held school records for touchdown passes in a game, season and career.
This is the third time Manigo has been on a coaching staff under Frazier serving as a graduate assistant at Prairie View A&M and a wide receivers coach at North Carolina Central.
Trojan Nation it is our honor to introduce 𝓛𝓪𝓶𝓪𝓻 𝓜𝓪𝓷𝓲𝓰𝓸 to the VSU Family ‼️
Coach Manigo will be the Offensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach for the VSU Football team
Welcome to the #LandOfTroy Coach Manigo ⚔️🔶🔷 pic.twitter.com/mGgJF7jqMg
— VSU Athletics (@VSUsports) July 13, 2022
He has also previously been on Norfolk State and Shaw’s coaching staffs the latter of which he had his longest tenure.
Also read: Henry Frazier III named Virginia State football coach
Filling the position of defensive coordinator is former Winston-Salem State linebacker Carlos Fields.
Fields played for the Rams from 2010-2013 helping lead the team to two CIAA titles. He was named CIAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2012 helping lead the team to the NCAA Division II national championship game.
Trojan Nation it is our honor to introduce 𝓒𝓪𝓻𝓵𝓸𝓼 𝓕𝓲𝓮𝓵𝓭𝓼 to the VSU Family ‼️
Coach Fields will be the Defensive Coordinator for the VSU Football team
Welcome to the #LandOfTroy Coach Fields ⚔️🔶🔷 pic.twitter.com/6JleeQSry2
— VSU Athletics (@VSUsports) July 13, 2022
He bounced around numerous NFL rosters including the Oakland Raiders, Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Chargers among others before getting into coaching. Last season, Fields served as the defensive ends coach with Alabama A&M.
The final coaching hire is defensive line coach and special teams coordinator John Pearce.
Trojan Nation it is our honor to introduce 𝓙𝓸𝓱𝓷 𝓟𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓬𝓮 to the VSU Family ‼️
Coach Pearce will be the Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach for the VSU Football team
Welcome to the #LandOfTroy Coach Pearce ⚔️🔶🔷 pic.twitter.com/56NW8oba7V
— VSU Athletics (@VSUsports) July 13, 2022
Pearce holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware and a master’s degree from Bowie State.
He is entering his 30th year as a football coach having served as head coach of Sul Ross State for the past seven seasons.
Prior coaching stops include Blinn College, Prairie View A&M, Catholic University, Bowie State, Shepherd University and Norfolk State.
