N.C. A&T’s football program has produced some of the most notable athletes in the past quarter century and that history has promoted Aggieland as a premier destination for athletes.

Current students may not see remarkable success, but when reviewing history, the facts are undeniable.

N.C. A&T has created a culture of preparing students to succeed individually and football is no different. They’ve taken the initiative transitioning to the CAA, a more competitive conference in 2022 to produce more polished players and gain more national recognition as well.

Tarik Cohen, one of the best players to ever suit up for the largest public HBCU,attended A&T from 2013-’16.

Cohen won several MVPs, all-team selections, and offensive player of the year selections. He went on to play for the Chicago Bears in 2018, however in the first year without him, the Aggies put together an undefeated season, claiming the celebration bowl.

N.C. A&T’s associate  athletic director for communications , Brian Holloway, attributed this success to the core of coaching Aggieland has had across the board.

Holloway has worked  for N.C. A&T for 20 years and one thing that has remained the same has been the coaching mentality.

“The good ones (coaches ) really care, showing that you have their back when they’re in tough situations,” said Holloway.

Holloway mentioned that N.C. A&T takes athletes that most people overlook and turns them into something special.

Cohen was overlooked to play football on the college level because coaches criticized his size. Even the head coach at the time, Rod Broadway, referred to him as “too small”.

After multiple rejections, Cohen took the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test, and was preparing to join the navy.

However, Assistant Coach at the time, Trei Oliver, embraced the culture of N.C. A&T by doing something no other coach would. He took a chance on Tarik Cohen.

Athletes like Cohen are evidence of what happens over time in A&T’s culture. Throughout Holloway’s 20 year tenure at N.C. A&T, he stated that the culture of coaching has never changed and he hopes it never does.

Football Head Coach, Shawn Gibbs, gained a deep understanding of that culture in his tenure with the Aggies as the running back and special teams coach from 2011-2021.

Working under Rod Broadway and Sam Washington, he won five MEAC Conference championships and four Celebration Bowls. Not to mention, being the position coach for Tarik Cohen.

“We’re not going to be focused on outcomes and results, we’re a process driven program,” said Gibbs.

The highly decorated coach is no stranger to the challenges and expectations he and the team are facing.

When he began coaching at A&T, the Aggies struggled in away games only winning 4-11 from 2011-2013. After a few years however, the program’s process began to produce success.

In 2014, the Aggies won four away games in that year alone and their success continued to skyrocket after that.

It’s still early, but the Aggies have resources to contribute to remarkable results. Shawn Gibbs is at the head, and he’s accompanied by Aaron Harris, a corner back on the Aeneas Williams award watchlist and Korion Sharpe, an offensive lineman who earned preseason all CAA honors and BOXTOROW preseason HBCU All-American honors.

“Coach Gibbs done been here and done it … showing us how to do it, that’s important,” said Sharpe.

The future is bright for N.C. A&T football because the approach to every task is the same. Regardless of the results, coaches work to produce outstanding athletes.

The Aggies have a head coach that has been through success as well as uncertainty but most importantly, he believes in his players and he knows what it takes to be successful. The work of the past quarter century has laid the foundation, now it’s time for us to witness the growth.