Custom Search DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University first-year head football coach Trei Oliver has announced three new additions to the coaching staff. Joining the NCCU Eagles are Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, Dovonte Edwards as safeties coach, and Thomas Dunson as tight ends coach.
Aughtry-Lindsay comes to Durham after spending last season at Ole Miss as senior player personnel analyst. For three campaigns (2015-17), he was at Campbell University, working as defensive run game coordinator, linebackers coach and pro liaison. Prior to Campbell, Aughtry-Lindsay worked at Saint Augustine’s University as defensive coordinator (2014), Elon University as linebackers coach (2012-13), Slippery Rock University as linebackers coach (2011), and N.C. State University as defensive graduate assistant and recruiting intern (2008-10). Aughtry-Lindsay was a two-year starter at NC State, where he was selected as a team captain in 2003 and 2004. In a win against UConn in 2003, Aughtry-Lindsay scored two defensive touchdowns - a 48-yard fumble recovery and a game-winning 56-yard interception return. That performance helped him earn both ACC and national player of the week honors. He amassed a career-best 105 tackles in 2003. In 2004, the Wolfpack boasted the nation’s top-ranked defense. Aughtry-Lindsay was honored with the Al Michaels Award during his time with NC State. In his career, he recorded 266 tackles, 22.5 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks. Following his collegiate career, he played two seasons in the Arena Football League 2 as a linebacker and fullback with the Arkansas Twisters and Laredo Lobos. Originally from High Point, Aughtry-Lindsay earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from NC State in 2006.
Edwards joins the NCCU football coaching staff after two seasons at Morehead State University. He coached defensive backs both seasons, while serving as co-special teams coordinator in 2017, and as defensive coordinator in 2018. Edwards played five years in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants and Detroit Lions. He also played for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. In his rookie season in 2005, he returned one of Green Bay Packers’ quarterback Brett Favre’s passes for a touchdown on Monday Night Football. Edwards played collegiately at N.C. State, where he initially lined up as a top wide receiver target for current San Diego Chargers’ quarterback Phillip Rivers. He later moved to cornerback during his final two seasons after recording starts on both offense and defense. Edwards was named Most Outstanding Defensive Back and voted the Most Versatile Athlete following his senior season. He contributed as a wide receiver, defensive back, punt returner and also as a point guard for the Wolfpack basketball team. Following his career, he played in the Hula Bowl in Hawaii in 2005. Prior to Morehead State, he worked as a defensive analyst/quality control coach at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. Edwards served as defensive backs and special teams coordinator at Kentucky Christian in 2014, before being elevated to defensive coordinator in 2015. He also was promoted to associate head coach in 2016. He began his coaching career at Northern Guilford (N.C.) High School in 2010, and helped the school win its first state championship. Edwards earned his bachelor’s degree in parks, recreation and tourism management, with emphasis in sport management, from N.C. State in 2012.
Dunson transitions to NCCU after spending the past four seasons (2015-18) at the University of Houston as a defensive football analyst. Before Houston, he served as an assistant football coach and head strength coach at North Shore High School (Houston, Texas) for six seasons (2009-14). Dunson was an offensive graduate assistant, working with the quarterbacks and tight ends, and assisted with special teams during the 2008 season at Utah State University. A native of Houston, he spent the 2007 season at Rice University as an assistant director of football operations and special assistant to the defensive coordinator. Dunson coaches three seasons (2004-2006) at North Texas, his last campaign as an offensive assistant with the tight ends group and his first two seasons as a defensive graduate assistant working with the secondary. The two-year letterman (1998-99) at LSU started his coaching career as defensive coordinator in 2001 at University High School.