Coleman Preaches Success at UAPB

UAPB Little Rock Central grad Mickey Dean in action against Southern University this past season.

(Click here to see UAPB's two-deep depth chart.)

Changes are in the mix for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions.

The Golden Lions' successful recruiting class and eight returning starters will be the beginnings for new head coach Monte Coleman. Coleman is the same retired Washington Redskin linebacker who won three Super Bowl rings and played in the National Football League for 16 seasons.

Upon retirement, Coleman said he was denying himself of his true calling. As legendary as he's become in the sport that he now coaches, Coleman is also a prominent minister in the Assemblies of God denomination.

"I was actually coming back to Pine Bluff to be a minister, then an opportunity here became available and I came on board," Coleman said. "My first hope is for winning football games. I'm not used to losing. I especially want to win when I'm on the football field, but it takes players being disciplined. As a football team, if we put discipline in every thing we do, we can have some major accomplishments."

Last season the Golden Lions came away with a disappointing 4-7 overall record, but with a new coach comes a newly adopted theme, "The Pride Is Back," to kick off the 2008 season that begins at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. The Golden Lions will play in-state nine times this year, including two trips to War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, first to face the University of Central Arkansas, which coincidentally is Coleman's almamater, and then Grambling State University of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

"I'm excited about the opportunity with this team," Coleman said. "They have a whole lot of talent, but they should have scored more points. Sometimes on paper everything looks great and builds confidence. With this team, they look extremely good on paper."

Senior quarterback Jonathan Moore won't be inexperienced under center. He and former quarterback Chris Wallace swapped snaps and Moore was said to have "looked sharp" in spring drills. Moore threw for 914 yards and three touchdowns last season.

Moore will be challenged at quarterback with freshmen Gvona Turner of Crossett and Raphael Sears of Bowie High School in Arlington, Texas.