DURHAM, N.C. – After seven seasons on the football coaching staff at Coastal Carolina, Antoine Rivens returns to North Carolina Central University as the tight ends and offensive tackles coach for the Eagles.
Rivens is no stranger to NCCU, as he spent four seasons (1999-2002) with the Eagles as assistant head coach and offensive line coach under head coach Rudy Abrams.
He was assistant head coach and defensive line coach at Coastal Carolina, where he worked with six First-Team and seven Second-Team All-Big South performers, including Coastal Carolina's top two all-time sack leaders.
Prior to his NCCU tenure, Rivens was the offensive line and special teams coach at Livingstone College, helping the Blue Bears to the 1997 and 1998 CIAA Conference titles. During his five seasons at Livingstone, he had at least one all-conference lineman each season.
A three-year starter and letterwinner on the offensive line at South Carolina, he was selected Freshman Player of the Year in 1989 and as a team captain for his senior season. Rivens graduated in 1992 with a degree in criminal justice.
Following his collegiate career, Rivens played professionally with the former Charlotte Rage of the Arena Football League (1994) and the Shreveport Pirates in the Canadian Football League (1995).
Born in Charlotte, N.C., Rivens attended West Charlotte High School, earning letters in football, basketball and track. He graduated in 1988 and was honored as the school's Athlete of the Year as a senior.
Another new addition to the NCCU football coaching staff is Jamar Harp, who lettered three seasons on the Eagles’ offensive line from 2000-03. Harp will serve as an offensive assistant coach.
A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Harp graduated from NCCU in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing. He earned a master’s degree in sport administration from Grambling State University in 2007, and has completed studies towards a Ph.D. degree in sport studies at the University of Iowa.
Harp was the assistant offensive line coach and video coordinator at Howard University during the 2007 season.
The 2010 NCCU football season kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 2, when the Eagles host former CIAA foe Johnson C. Smith at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium. Fans will have an opportunity to “Meet the Eagles” on Saturday, Aug. 21 at 10 a.m.
