Assistant Coaches

Vincent Brown

Assoc. HC; Def. Coord. • LB 4th Season

Vincent Brown is in his fourth season as the Tribe’s associate head coach/defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

Brown’s defensive unit established itself among the best in the Colonial Athletic Association last season as it ranked among the nation’s top 20 in defensive touchdowns (11th), rushing defense (12th) and interceptions (18th). W&M’s 29 sacks were just two shy of ranking among the program’s top-10 list, while it ranked third in the CAA in forced turnovers and pass efficiency defense.

In addition to the team’s success, three Tribe standouts earned allconference honors last season. Defensive end Nate Lynn highlighted the talented group, as he earned multiple All-America accolades and was selected as a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which honors the nation’s top FCS defensive player.

Brown, a former All-Pro linebacker for the New England Patriots, took over the Tribe’s defense in 2019 after stints as a coordinator at Howard University and UConn.

Brown also coached at the University of Virginia for four seasons (2010-13) and at the University of Richmond (2008-09).

Prior to his start in collegiate coaching, Brown served as an inside linebackers coach for the Dallas Cowboys in 2006.

A three-time All-Pro linebacker for the New England Patriots (1991, 1992, 1993), Brown was selected in the second round of the 1988 NFL draft. He went on to start 103 of 123 games for the Patriots before retiring in 1995.

A native of Atlanta, Brown played at Mississippi Valley State where he earned Kodak All-America honors as a senior in 1987. He was a secondteam Associated Press All-American as a junior. A three-time all-conference pick, he set a school record for career tackles (570) and led the team in stops his final three seasons. He graduated with a degree in criminal justice.

Brown and his wife, Chandra, have four children: Dane, Vincent II, Raven and Jorian.

Christian Taylor

Offensive Coordinator • RB 3rd Season

Christian Taylor is in his third season as the Tribe’s offensive coordinator and running backs coach.

W&M’s offense, and rushing attack in particular, flourished under Taylor’s tutelage last season as it led the Colonial Athletic Association and ranked 12th nationally with 205.3 rushing yards per game. Additionally, the Tribe led the conference in yards per carry (5.0) – nearly equaling the school record (5.1) set in 1990 – and ranked second in the league with 19 rushing touchdowns.

The team’s success translated to numerous postseason accolades, as four members of the offensive unit garnered all-conference honors. Highlighting the standouts were AllAmerican left tackle Andrew Trainer, who signed a free agent with the Los Angeles Chargers, and quarterback Darius Wilson, who was selected as the CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year. Running back Bronson Yoder and right tackle Colby Sorsdal also earned All-CAA distinction.

Taylor, who played quarterback at W&M from 2002-06 and was an assistant coach on the Tribe’s staff for two seasons (2008-09), returned to Williamsburg with impressive credentials that includes being selected as a finalist as the 2018 FCS Coordinator of the Year.

That success led to numerous individual accolades for his players, as he produced a pair of Walter Payton Award finalists at quarterback – Anthony Lawrence and Reid Sinnett – and another at wide receiver, Michael Bandy. One of the nation’s elite Division I quarterbacks, Sinnett received contract offers from multiple NFL teams before signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020.

Taylor has also served as an offensive assistant at San Diego State and Michigan.

Originally from Yorktown, Virginia, Taylor attended Grafton High School. He is married to Shay Timms and they have two sons, Anthony and Tyler. Shay earned her undergraduate degree (BBA ‘96) and Law degree (JD ‘99) from USD.

Matt Johns

Passing Game Coord. • QB 4th Season

Promoted to passing game coordinator during the spring, Matt Johns is in his fourth year as an assistant on William & Mary’s staff and his third coaching the quarterbacks after working with the inside wide receivers/tight ends in 2019.

Last season Johns was instrumental in the development of standout freshman quarterback Darius Wilson, who was selected as the CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year. One of the nation’s top freshman quarterbacks, Wilson broke W&M’s true freshman record for passing yards (1,205) and total yards (1,591).

Although the COVID-19 global pandemic limited the 2020 campaign to a three-game slate during the spring, Johns’ impact was evident in the team’s improved passing efficiency (133.1), which catapulted from 111.2 the previous year.

During Johns’ first year at W&M, his group contributed to the team’s dramatic improvement offensively in which it nearly double its scoring output and averaged nearly 100 more total yards per game from the previous season.

A former starting quarterback at the University of Virginia, Johns joined the Tribe’s staff after serving as a graduate assistant working with the Cavaliers’ defense in 2018.

En route to helping Virginia post an 8-5 record, which included a shutout victory against South Carolina in the Belk Bowl, UVA’s defense produced three All-Atlantic Coast Conference selections. Additionally, the Cavaliers ranked 11th nationally in interceptions (17), 16th in passing yards allowed per game (183.0) and 21st in scoring defense (20.1).

Prior to joining the Cavaliers’ staff, Johns served as the quarterbacks coach at Central Bucks South High School in 2017.

A four-year letterwinner at Virginia, Johns finished his career ranked 11th on the program’s career passing list (4,233) and sixth in passing touchdowns (30) and 200-yard passing games (11).

Mike London Jr.

Video Coordinator • WR 4th Season

Mike London Jr. is in his fourth season at William & Mary as the wide receivers coach and his third as the video coordinator.

London mentored some of the Colonial Athletic Association’s most dynamic wideouts last season, as Zach Burdick (18.6) and Cole Blackman (16.4) both ranked among the league’s best in yards per catch.

London led a dynamic and productive group of wideouts during his initial season with the Tribe in 2019, as multiple members of the unit flourished under his leadership. True freshman Kane Everson highlighted the position group and earned Freshman All-America honors after setting true freshman single-season school records for catches (46) and receiving yards (585). Zach Burdick also posted a breakout season under London’s tutelage and ranked third in the conference and 16th nationally with 19.3 yards per catch.

In addition to the individual success, W&M’s receivers contributed to the team’s dramatic improvement offensively in which it nearly double its scoring output and averaged nearly 100 more total yards per game from the previous season.

London Jr. joined the Tribe’s staff after a tremendously successful 2018 season as Howard University’s wide receivers coach where he helped the Bison rank fourth nationally in yards per catch (17.27) and 16th in passing offense (278.0).

In addition to producing a pair of first-team All-MEAC wideouts, Jequez Ezzard ranked seventh nationally in receiving yards per game (106.4) and 11th in receiving touchdowns (12).

Prior to leading HU’s receiving corps, London Jr. coached at the prep level at Paramus Catholic High School (Paramus, N.J.) as the wide receivers coach and at AmherstPelham Regional (Amherst, Mass.) as the offensive coordinator.

During his successful tenure at the high school level, he coached 21 student-athletes who went on to compete collegiately at the Division I level.

Mario Acitelli

Offensive Line Coach 1st Season

Mario Acitelli is in his first season as William & Mary’s offensive line coach after rejoining the Tribe’s staff in January.

An assistant on W&M’s staff from 2014-18, Acitelli returns to Williamsburg with tremendous coaching credentials that include stints at LSU, North Carolina and Texas.

In addition to his success as a coach, Acitelli’s exceptional playing career at Appalachian State was highlighted by a pair of FCS National Championships, All-America honors and earning the prestigious Jacobs Blocking Trophy, which is awarded to the Southern Conference’s top offensive lineman.

Acitelli rejoins the Tribe after coaching at LSU, Elon and North Carolina during the past three seasons. Most recently, he served as the lead offensive analyst at LSU, working primarily with the running backs.

Acitelli made a tremendous impact on W&M success during his five seasons in Williamsburg (2014-18) coaching the fullbacks and tight ends, as well as serving as the special teams coordinator for his final two years.

During his five seasons in Williamsburg, Acitelli’s position group consistently ranked among the best in the CAA, as five Tribe standouts combined to earn eight all-conference accolades during his tenure.

A four-year starter and team captain for the Mountaineers, Acitelli was a member of the 2006 and 2007 National Championship teams. Additionally, he won the 2009 Jacobs Blocking Trophy, which is awarded to the Southern Conference’s top offensive lineman, and played all 72 snaps in the team’s upset win at No. 5 Michigan in 2007.

Acitelli earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Appalachian State in 2010 and a master’s degree in advertising from Texas in 2013.

Acitelli is married to the former Sara Cline. The couple have two children, Leona and Graydon.

Jack Armstrong

Recruiting Coordinator • TE 3rd Season

Jack Armstrong, a former team captain and wide receiver at William & Mary (2014-18), is in his third season as a full-time assistant and works with the tight ends. He was promoted to recruiting director and assistant camp director during the spring.

Prior to joining the staff in a fulltime role before the 2020 season, he served as an offensive analyst for the Tribe the previous year.

Last season Armstrong helped Lachlan Pitts develop into one of the Colonial Athletic Association’s top tight ends, as his three touchdown receptions were the most by a W&M tight end since Drew Atchison totaled six in 2007.

Although the COVID-19 global pandemic limited the 2020 campaign to a three-game slate during the spring, Armstrong was instrumental in the growth and production of his position group. Anthony Mague was indicative of that success, as he posted a breakout season and emerged as the squad’s second-leading receiver.

Armstrong’s first season on the staff in 2019 was an incredibly productive year for the Tribe. While W&M relied heavily on a talented true freshman class that included its starting quarterback, its leading receiver and three of its top four rushers, the offense nearly doubled its scoring output from the prior season – improving from 13.6 points/game in 2018 to 25.2 points/ game in 2019. Additionally, W&M’s total yardage per game catapulted by nearly 100 yards per contest.

Nowhere was the dramatic progress more evident than in W&M’s rushing attack where it increased its production on the ground by more than 130 yards per game and scored 21 more rushing touchdowns than the squad’s 2018 figures. Additionally, the Tribe’s 26 rushing touchdowns was just one shy of breaking into the program’s single-season top-10 list, while its 462 rushing yards in the win against Rhode Island set a singlegame school record.

Ras-I Dowling

Def. Passing Game Coord. • DB 4th Season

Promoted to defensive passing game coordinator during the spring, Ras-I Dowling enters his fourth season as an assistant at William & Mary and his third as the secondary coach after working with the cornerbacks in 2019.

W&M’s secondary was instrumental in the Tribe’s defensive success last season, as the Tribe ranked 18th nationally in interceptions (14) and tied for third in the Colonial Athletic Association in pass efficiency defense (119.4).

Dowling also mentored one of the conference’s top cornerbacks, as Ryan Poole garnered All-CAA distinction last fall after ranking tied for seventh nationally in passes defended. Additionally, Poole was joined on the VaSID All-State First Team by safety Gage Herdman, who led all CAA safeties in interceptions (4) - an impressive figure that also ranked third among all the league’s players.

Although the COVID-19 global pandemic limited the 2020 campaign to a three-game slate during the spring, Dowling’s unit emerged as one of the league’s best and ranked fourth in the conference in passing defense (167.7).

Dowling was instrumental in the success of the Tribe’s cornerbacks in 2019, as Corey Parker and Latrelle Smith, a true freshman, combined to be one of the conference’s top tandems. In addition to recording four interceptions, the duo combined to total 23 passes defended. Additionally, Parker ranked fourth in the conference with 1.17 PBU per game en route to earning second-team all-conference honors.

Dowling joined London at W&M after serving on his staff at Howard University the previous two seasons where he coached and developed Bryan Cook, who was selected with the 62nd overall pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Drafted by Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots with the 33rd overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Dowling became the highest selected defensive back to ever play at the University of Virginia.

Keenan Carter

Defensive Line Coach 4th Season

Keenan Carter is in his fourth season as the Tribe’s defensive line coach and was promoted to assistant camp director during the spring.

Carter has made a tremendous impact leading W&M’s defensive front and has produced at least one all-conference standout during each of his first three seasons. Nate Lynn highlighted the talented group last season, as he earned multiple AllAmerica accolades and was selected as a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which honors the nation’s top FCS defensive player. Will Kiely also garnered All-CAA honors for the second consecutive season.

Carter’s unit was instrumental in the Tribe’s overall defensive success last season, as W&M ranked among the nation’s top 20 in defensive touchdowns (11th), rushing defense (12th) and interceptions (18th). Additionally, W&M’s 29 sacks were just two shy of ranking among the program’s top-10 list, while it ranked third in the CAA in forced turnovers and pass efficiency defense.

During Carter’s first season with the Tribe, the defensive line helped W&M post 30 sacks and limit opposing rushing attacks to just 152.9 yards per game on the ground.

Bill Murray highlighted the individual Tribe standouts who benefited from Carter’s tutelage, as the standout defensive tackle earned first-team All-America honors from Hero Sports and signed a free agent contract with the New England Patriots.

Carter joined W&M’s staff after leading the defensive line for Head Coach Mike London at Howard University during the previous two seasons.

A two-year starter at nose guard at the University of Virginia, Carter graduated from UVA with a degree in sociology and went on to play with several NFL teams. He later earned a master’s degree in education from Grand Canyon University.

Keenan and his wife, Jennifer, have four children: Keenan Jr., Peyton, Doug and Kylie.

Bo Revell

Special Teams Coord. • ILB 8th Season

Promoted to special teams coordinator during the spring, Bo Revell is in his eighth season as a defensive assistant on the William & Mary coaching staff and works with the Tribe’s inside linebackers. He has also served as the program’s recruiting coordinator (2020-21) and video coordinator (2017-19).

W&M’s inside linebackers played a pivotal role in the Tribe’s success defensively last season, as the team ranked among the nation’s top 20 in defensive touchdowns (11th), rushing defense (12th) and interceptions (18th). Additionally, W&M’s 29 sacks were just two shy of ranking among the program’s top-10 list, while it ranked third in the CAA in forced turnovers and pass efficiency defense.

In addition to producing multiple all-conference standouts during his tenure, Revell helped oversee the development of 2015 Butkus Award Watch List standout Luke Rhodes. One of the nation’s top collegiate linebackers throughout his career at W&M, Rhodes signed a free agent contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following a successful senior season in which he earned first-team all-conference honors. Rhodes is currently a member of the Indianapolis Colts and was selected as an All-Pro last season.

Most recently, Revell was instrumental in the development and success of all-conference linebacker Nate Atkins, who finished his career last season ranked eighth in school history with 316 career tackles.

A former tight end for W&M, Revell began serving as a student assistant coach in December 2015 immediately after finishing his playing career.

A three-year starter, Revell was voted a team captain during his senior season. Although he suffered a broken leg during the 2014 season opener at Virginia Tech, he returned late in the campaign and earned starts in the final two games.

He is married to former W&M women’s basketball team captain Victoria (Willems) Revell.

Darryl Blackstock

Outside Linebackers Coach 4th Season

Rick Purcell

Quality Control - Defense 1st Season

Elijah Fernandez

Quality Control - Offense 1st Season

Promoted to director of player development and transition during the spring, Darryl Blackstock is in his fourth season as an assistant on William & Mary’s staff and his third working with the outside linebackers.

Blackstock began his coaching career with the Tribe as a defensive assistant working primarily with the defensive line in 2019.

W&M’s outside linebackers played a pivotal role in the Tribe’s success defensively last season, as the team ranked among the nation’s top 20 in defensive touchdowns (11th), rushing defense (12th) and interceptions (18th). Additionally, W&M’s 29 sacks were just two shy of ranking among the program’s top-10 list, while it ranked third in the CAA in forced turnovers and pass efficiency defense.

Although the COVID-19 global pandemic limited the 2020 campaign to a three-game slate during the spring, Blackstock’s unit excelled during the shortened ledger and was instrumental in helping the Tribe’s defense limit opponents to just 322.0 yards per contest.

A seven-year NFL veteran as a linebacker/defensive end, Blackstock played professionally with the Arizona Cardinals (2005-07), Cincinnati Bengals (2008-09), Oakland Raiders (2011) and Baltimore Ravens (2012).

Selected by the Cardinals in the third round (95th pick overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft, Blackstock began his professional tenure after an outstanding collegiate career at the University of Virginia. A threetime All-Atlantic Coast Conference honoree, he led the league in sacks and ranked first in the nation among linebackers as a junior. His long list of collegiate accolades also includes being selected as the ACC Defensive Freshman of the Year by the Sporting News and garnering first-team freshman All-America distinction from numerous organizations.

During the summer, he was selected to participate in the NFL Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship and worked with the Los Angeles Rams during training camp.

Rick Purcell enters his first season on William & Mary’s staff as the defensive quality control coach and will assist with the secondary.

His primary responsibilities include assisting the defensive staff with film breakdown, analysis and scouting reports. He also helps with defensive recruiting, on-campus visits and special projects.

Prior to joining W&M, Purcell served as special teams coordinator and secondary coach at William Paterson University (NJ) where he and the staff helped lead the program to its best record since 2014.

Purcell coached successfully at the prep level and played pivotal roles for those teams. As the Freshmen Head Coach/Varsity Assistant at La Salle (Cincinnati) he helped deliver the school’s first state title in 2014 (141) and helped lay the groundwork that led to three consecutive titles (2014-2016). He coached the safeties on Cincinnati Colerain’s 2015 state final four team and was instrumental in developing Darrian Beavers (NY Giants), Amir Riep (Ohio State), and Keonte Jones (Iowa State/Western Illinois). As the secondary coach at Warren Central (Indianapolis) from 2017-2018, he helped the program secure its ninth state title (14-0). During his time there he coached Mr. Football runner up David Bell (Purdue, Cleveland Browns) and Julius Brents (Kansas State – 2022 Jim Thorpe Watch List).

Purcell was a letterman at the University of Notre Dame where he was a defensive back. He was a member of the 1988 National Championship and 1989 Orange Bowl teams.

Purcell earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Notre Dame and his Juris Doctor from the University of Cincinnati. Purcell is active in his community working with youth teams and mentoring young adults.

He and his wife Rahquel have two children, Falyn and Roman.

Elijah Fernandez is in his first season as the offensive quality control coach on William & Mary’s staff.

His primary responsibilities include assisting the offensive coaches with film break down, scouting reports and assisting the running backs coach.

Fernandez joins the Tribe after serving as the assistant wide receivers coach at Virginia University of Lynchburg last season. In addition to organizing drills and coordinating the scout team, his wide range of responsibilities included assisting with developing game plans, evaluating game film, organizing meetings and assisting with recruiting.

Prior to joining the VUL staff, Fernandez spent two seasons as a student assistant coach at Liberty University working with the cornerbacks coach and special teams. During his tenure, he helped lead the Flames to a pair of postseason bowl victories.

Fernandez is currently completing his bachelor’s degree in coaching, sport, event & tourism management at Liberty.