North Carolina Central University Athletics

A veteran with more than two decades of coaching experience, Tony Spencer joined the North Carolina Central University football program prior to the 2022 season. He currently serves as the tight ends coach.
 
In 2022, Spencer helped coach an Eagles offense that had five First Team All-MEAC honorees, including Offensive Player of the Year Davius Richard and Offensive Lineman of the Year Robert Mitchell. In addition, tight end Tyler Barnes was a second team all-conference selection after averaging nearly 12 yards per reception.
 
Before coming to Durham, Spencer spent four seasons at the University of Idaho. There, he worked extensively with the tight ends, fullbacks and wide receivers, including unanimous All-Big Sky First Team selection Logan Kendall.

Spencer's career also includes stops at Wyoming (2003-04), South Dakota (2005-10), the University of Mary (2011-13), Winona State (2013-15) and Alfred State College (2015-17). He has vast experience coaching the offensive side of the ball, primarily wide receivers and offensive line.

At Winona State, Spencer helped coach offensive lineman Vance Ross to first team all-conference honors while senior Richard Lilla was an all-league and all-region honoree. The Warrior line helped the team average 434 yards and 35 points per game. At the University of Mary, Spencer tutored All-American receiver Tyler Steffan during the 2011 and 2012 seasons, with Steffan catching a school-record 17 touchdowns as a junior in 2011.

Spencer spent six seasons as the offensive line coach at South Dakota, where he helped lead an offense that finished fifth nationally in total offense (460.3 ypg) in 2009, fourth in scoring (37.5 ppg) in 2008 and fourth in rushing yards (253.4 ypg in 2006, 297.5 ypg in 2005). Spencer tutored 14 all-conference linemen at South Dakota, including a Rimington Award winner, two Gene Upshaw Award finalists and four All-Americans.

Spencer spent two seasons at the University of Wyoming as a graduate assistant, working with the team’s offensive line. He coached Chase Johnson, who later played for the Minnesota Vikings, while also helping lead the team to a 24-21 win over UCLA in the 2004 Pioneer Pure Vision Bowl.

After an All-America playing career at Carroll College, Spencer began his coaching career at his alma mater. He was the team’s defensive backs coach in 1996 and coached wide receivers from 1999-2002, helping Carroll win the NAIA national championship in 2002.

Spencer started on both sides of the ball while playing for Carroll, earning All-America honors at defensive back while leading the nation in interceptions as a senior. He was also an all-conference selection at wide receiver.

Spencer earned his bachelor’s degree in business from Carroll College in 1996 and his master’s degree in health, physical education and recreation from South Dakota in 2011.