Rashaan Jordan enters his 15th season as Wingate’s defensive coordinator in 2020. He returned to the Bulldog family in December of 2012. Jordan spent seven years as Wingate’s defensive coordinator (2001-08) before working on the football coaching staffs at Cornell and SUNY Brockport. He serves as the team’s pro liaison and works with the Bulldog linebackers.
Three Bulldogs made first team All-SAC in 2019: Davion Washington, Robbie Wallace and Jordon Anderson. Wingate’s defense was second in four statistical categories: rushing defense (111.1), scoring defense (21.9), team sacks (3.08) and fewest first downs allowed (198). The Bulldogs made the NCAA Division II playoffs for the third consecutive season.
Jordan and the Bulldog coaching staff helped defensive end Cardell Rawlings become a consensus All-American and the SAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2018. Rawlings led the SAC in sacks and ranked fourth nationally. Six Bulldog defenders made the All-SAC teams. Wingate led the SAC in rushing defense (123.6), team sacks (3.54), team tackles for loss (8.4), third down defense (.264) and defensive touchdowns (three).
In 2017, Jordan saw senior linebacker Zack Singleton earn Academic All-America® honors. Jordan coached four defenders to All-SAC honors. Defensive lineman Auntrell Mack led the way with his first-team nod. Linebacker Robbie Wallace led the SAC in tackles per game (9.5). Jordan’s defensive unit made big plays in big moments, leading the SAC in fourth down defense (.273). The SAC champion Bulldogs held Carson-Newman to three second-half points in a big league win.
Jordan’s 2016 Bulldog defense led the South Atlantic Conference in nine statistical categories. An AFCA All-American, end Ray Edwards was the first athlete in program history to earn SAC Defensive Player of the Year laurels. Edwards and four WU defensive teammates were named to the All-SAC teams. Jordan’s charges allowed only 20 points in four 2016 victories after pitching a school-record three shutouts the previous year.
Jordan’s defense produced three first team All-SAC choices in 2015: Andre Foulks, linebacker Eric Mapoles and safety Nortavius Otis. Mapoles became only the second student-athlete in WU Football history to make the Academic All-America® team two years in a row. Lineman Jordan Smith joined Mapoles on the Academic All-Super Region 2 team.
Wingate defensive lineman Nick Napolitano earned a spot on the Associated Press Little All-America second team and the Academic All-America® second team following the 2014 season. A two-time team captain, Napolitano was a three-time All-SAC pick. Defensive back Brandon Hathaway was named first team All-American by the Beyond Sports Network (BSN). Hathaway was a first team All-SAC pick as well.
Mapoles and defensive back Jon Jimenez joined Napolitano on the 2014 All-SAC squad. All three student-athletes were named to the Academic All-America® NCAA Division II football team by CoSIDA.
Statistically, the 2014 Bulldogs were seventh in the NCAA with allowing only 154.5 passing yards per game. Wingate topped the 2014 SAC charts in defensive interceptions (16), fumbles recovered (11) and defensive touchdowns (four). In 2013, Bulldog defensive lineman Auntrell Mack led the NCAA in fumbles recovered with four. Both Jimenez and Napolitano received all-league laurels from the SAC.
Jordan is a graduate of Alfred University, where he earned a degree in Athletic Administration. He spent time with Coach Reich at the University of Buffalo after one year as the running backs coach at Alfred. At Cornell, Jordan was primarily a linebacker coach while also assisting in the Kick-off, Kick-off Return, and Punt Return special team areas for the team as well.
Jordan joined the Cornell football coaching staff in the spring of 2008 after coaching at Wingate University for the previous seven years as defensive coordinator, assistant head coach and linebacker coach. He also worked with the team’s punters.
While at Wingate from 2001 to 2008, Jordan coached defensive backs David Jones and Donald Brown, linebacker Stuart Sheppard and defensive lineman Kenwin Cummings to All-SAC seasons in 2006. Jones was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL draft (145th overall selection) and signed a three-year contract in June. A 2007 Hula Bowl participant, Jones was a D2Football.com and AFCA All-American his senior season.
In addition, Cummings led the SAC in tackles for loss (17.5), quarterback hurries (15) and quarterback sacks (nine) in 2006. He was 21st in the NCAA in pass sacks and 22nd in tackles for loss. He was named to the 2005 Don Hansen’s Football Gazette NCAA Division II All-America first team.
The Bulldogs were third in the SAC in pass defense in 2005, allowing only 176.6 passing yards per contest. In addition, Wingate was second in pass defense efficiency (103.9). Four Bulldog defenders were named to the All-SAC team in 2005.
Before joining the Wingate family, Jordan was a full-time outside linebackers coach at the University of Buffalo. Jordan also coordinated Buffalo’s punt return team efforts. In addition to his coaching responsibilities at Buffalo, Jordan was the school’s primary recruiter in Maryland and Florida. He also has recruiting experience in North Carolina, Delaware, New York, and parts of Canada.
Prior to his promotion to full-time assistant coaching status, Jordan spent four years as restricted earnings assistant coach (defensive backs) at the University of Buffalo. In addition to his duties with the defensive backs, he was very involved with student-athlete eligibility concerns. Also, he was responsible for weekend recruiting hosts and served as the football staff liaison to the residence life office.
A graduate of Alfred University, Jordan is the Saxons’ single-season rushing leader. A tailback at Alfred, Jordan was an honorable mention All-American and Player of the Year in the ECAC. Also, he was first team All-Upstate New York. While an undergraduate, Jordan earned a bachelor’s degree in athletic administration at Alfred. After his playing days were completed in 1994, Jordan spent one year as running backs coach for the Saxons before moving on to the University of Buffalo.
Jordan and his wife Elizabeth have three sons and two daughters (Malik, Calen, Kyral, Kyra and Makiah) and reside in Indian Trail.
Coach Jordan’s recruiting areas include: North Carolina counties of Burke, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Davie, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, and Stanly; also, junior colleges in Northern California.
