Head Coach - David Taynor

David Taynor, a 1999 graduate of Urbana University, was named Blue Knight head football coach on April 24, 2008. He becomes the ninth head football coach at Urbana.

"Coach Taynor was the player's choice from the moment they met him. His background as an outstanding student-athlete at Urbana University made him the ideal fit for our program,” said Urbana University Director of Athletics Doug Young. “Dave knows what it takes to be successful at the NCAA Division II level. We will all benefit from his experiences with the great programs that he has been a part of in the past."

He was a first team all-Mid-States Football Association offensive lineman for the Blue Knights and also earned NAIA all-American honors in 1998. Taynor, a captain his senior year at Urbana, was an NAIA Scholar Athlete, in addition to being a two-time all-MSFA Scholar Athlete.

“I’m extremely excited about becoming a head football coach, but more importantly, becoming a head football coach here,” said Taynor. “This is where I played college football. This University has done a lot for me and my career. For me to be able to come back and be a part of an exciting time of transition to NCAA D II and be a leader here is something very special to me.”

He comes back to his roots after being mentored by some college coaching greats, and developing a strong and diverse knowledge of the game of football and the necessary leadership experience to effectively mentor student athletes and a successful football program.

“Football has always been a passion of mine,” said Taynor. “Without college football, my coaches and teammates, I would not have had the structure. That is why I got into coaching. This is what I want to do. The development of young men is my goal. We want them to be proud of what they’ve accomplished, where they’ve been and where they’re going.”

Taynor comes to Urbana from Tiffin University where he was the offensive coordinator/offensive line coach for two seasons from 2006-2008. He also served as an academic advisor for the Dragons’ football program. During his tenure as offensive coordinator, Tiffin University established itself as a multiple, balanced and record-setting unit. Over two seasons the Dragons accumulated a 19-3 record and won the Great Lakes Football Conference championship in 2007. During that 2007 season the Tiffin offense broke 18 team or individual university records.

He was named offensive line coach at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 2004 and promoted to defensive coordinator in 2005, where he worked along side Head Coach John Miech. As an assistant football coach at UW-Stevens Point, Taynor coordinated the defense which produced four all-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference players and a first team all-Region defensive end in 2005. In 2004, his UW-Stevens Point line propelled the offense to a top two finish in the WIAC in total offense, scoring and passing efficiency. He coached two first team all-conference linemen and a second team all-American tight end.

Taynor's first full-time college coaching job was as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Mo. from 2001-2004 with head coach Chris Tabor, who is now a special teams assistant coach with the Chicago Bears. Taynor’s offense finished third in the nation (NAIA) in total offense and second in passing offense, while breaking 35 individual or team records for offensive proficiency during the 2002 season. He also served as the team’s NFL liaison.

“At Culver Stockton in my first season, we recruited 64 players and had the first winning season the school had in 15 years. You can have a very positive immediate impact on a program.”

Taynor got his collegiate coaching start as an assistant coach for the Blue Knights for one season. He then moved on to the University of Louisville as a graduate assistant (1999-2001), working for John L. Smith. While at U of L when the Cardinals were crowned Conference USA champions, Taynor coached in the 1999 Humanitarian Bowl and 2000 Liberty Bowl. He also had the opportunity to assist in the strength training of four NFL draft picks and 14 athletes who were invited to NFL camps.

“I got a chance to learn from John L. Smith, a coach that has turned around programs and knows how to motivate young men,” said Taynor. “It was a great experience.”

Taynor is certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association and has nine years of experience as a head or assistant strength coach.
He received his master's degree in higher education at the University of Louisville in 2000 and his bachelor’s degree in sports science from Urbana University in 1999.

David and his wife, Heather (Rose) Taynor, a 1998 Urbana University graduate and three-year letter winner for the Blue Knight softball team, currently reside in Findlay, Ohio.

Jeff Smith
Offensive Line/Academic Coordinator
e-mail: jsmith@urbana.edu

Jeff Smith, a native of Dayton, is in his seventh season as a member of the Blue Knight football coaching staff.

Smith will work with the offensive line this season, after serving as defensive line for the past four years. He also served as offensive line coach during the 2001 and 2002.

In 2005 Smith helped lead a Blue Knight defense that was second best in the nation in stopping the run. Urbana allowed just 91.6 yards rushing per game. He coached three players to All-American status, including Marcus Lewis, now in his second season in the NFL, playing for the Detroit Lions.

During the 2004 season he had the privilege to coach three MSFA All-Conference performers, including NAIA 1st Team All-American Vince Scalmato, a Draddy Award semifinalist in 2005. In 2004, Smith’s group recorded an average of two sacks per game and helped the defense to a 3.2 yards per rush allowed, which was an improvement from a 4.6 yard average in 2003.

In 2003 he was honored with a nomination for the Mid-States Football Association Assistant Coach of the Year Award.

Coach Smith has worked several camps, including the New England Patriots NFL Camp.

Prior to coming to Urbana, Coach Smith served as an assistant coach at Beavercreek High School where he worked with the wide receivers, offensive line, and defensive backs during the 1999 and 2000 seasons.

Smith played his high school football for Bill Pawloski at Camden Central High School in Camden, New York. He was a team captain and a two-year letter winner at inside linebacker earning all-league honors both years. He also served as a manager in the private sector for seven years (93-99) prior to starting his career in coaching.

Jeff resides in Urbana with his wife Lucy and his seven children.

C. Deon Doster
Wide Receivers & Tight Ends
Co-Offensive Coordinator
Strength & Conditioning Coordinator
e-mail: cdoster@urbana.edu

Deon Doster of Pompano Beach, Fla., was promoted to co-offensive coordinator in the summer of 2007. He has been with the Blue Knight football program for four seasons.

In addition to serving as co-offensive coordinator, Doster will coach wide receivers, his fourth season mentoring the position.

He spent four years as special teams coordinator for the Blue Knight program (2003-2006), and has also spent two seasons as the Blue Knights' running backs coach. Since arriving at Urbana University, Doster has coached six All-MSFA selections and two NAIA All-Americans. In 2006 he coached Marc Burr who broke Urbana's single game (four) and single season (12) record for touchdowns.

Doster is a graduate of Coconut Creek High School where he played there for two seasons (93-94). During the '94 season, Doster was the lead blocker for the Broward County leading rusher and Broward County Offensive Player of the Year. He transitioned to tail back and went on to star at Eureka College where he was a four-year letter winner at running back and was team captain from 1997-1998. He graduated with a B.S. in psychology/sociology in 2000. Doster went on to coach his alma mater from 1999-2001. He was the running backs coach and assistant recruiting coordinator, where he coached two-time all-conference and All-American Greg McBroom. Doster was also head coach of the junior varsity program at Eureka College from 1999-2001.

He worked at Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center as a youth supervisor counselor and home detention officer (2000-2002).

Doster graduated with a master’s in education from Urbana University in December of 2005.

Kelley Kinser
Outside Linebackers
Kelley Kinser joined the Urbana University football staff as the Blue Knights’ outside linebackers coach in January, 2007.

Kinser, a native of Logan, Ohio, comes to the Blue Knights from Kenton Ridge High School in Springfield, Ohio where he served as linebackers coach and junior varsity defensive coordinator.

Kinser played semi-pro for six seasons for both the nationally ranked Dayton Steelers and Dayton Cowboys where he played fullback.

Kinser graduated from Stebbins High School in Riverside, Ohio where he lettered in football for three years.

Kinser is currently the president of a local youth football program - Graham Little Falcons, Inc .- located in Saint Paris, Ohio where he has volunteered for the past four years.

Kinser currently serves in the private sector as a manger for a local company in Urbana (Honeywell) and resides in Saint Paris with his wife Sharon; daughter Learic (10); and son Kelley (8).

Brian Matesic
Assistant Head Coach
Co-Defensive Coordinator
Defensive Backs/ Recruiting Coordinator
Brian Matesic, of Redford, Mich. will again be coaching defensive backs in his second season at Urbana University. Matesic is also the defensive passing game coordinator and recruiting coordinator for the Blue Knights.

Coach Matesic was a four-year defensive end/linebacker at Adrian College, the 1997 M.I.A.A. Champions. He also played first base for the Adrian baseball squad in 1997. Matesic comes to the Blue Knight program from Highland Community College in Highland, Kansas, where he was the defensive coordinator, as well as the co-special teams coordinator, secondary coach, and co-strength and conditioning coordinator.

Prior to that he was the head special teams coach, the strength and conditioning coach, equipment coordinator and the assistant to the offensive and defensive coordinators at the University of South Alabama.

Matesic received his bachelors degree in health education, recreation with a minor in business administration from Adrian College in 2001. Matesic served as a graduate assistant under head coach Jim Lyall at Adrian College. He earned his Master of Sports Management from United States Sports Academy in 2002.

Matesic has been a member of the American Football Coaches Association since 2002.

Matesic is the son of Robert and Janice Matesic of Reford, MI, and the brother to Jamie Geistle of Wixom, Mich. Matesic is single and currently resides in Urbana.

Gene Clemons
Defensive Line/Video Coordinator
Gene Clemons joined the Urbana University football staff as the Blue Knights’ video coordinator and tight ends coach in July, 2007. Clemons, a native of Tampa, Fla., comes to the Blue Knights from Randolph-Macon Academy, a private school in northern Virginia, where he was the head football coach and assistant basketball coach.

Prior to his stint in Virginia he coached running backs and tight ends at Bridgton Academy, a post-graduate prep school that plays a college schedule. He was also a volunteer assistant basketball coach.

He has worked at Vermont’s summer football camp.

Clemons was a standout athlete at Fitchburg State College in Massachusetts. He was a starting wide receiver on the football team, starting forward on the basketball team, and a member of the track team. After two seasons at FSC, he transferred to Arkansas Tech University and played tight end for two years.

Clemons graduated from Arkansas Tech University with a bachelor of arts degree in journalism in the summer of 2004.