Posted: Aug 16, 2023
Written by: Daniel Talbert
Wes Dodson enters his first year as the LaGrange College Head Coach. In 2007, he started at Hampden Sydney College as an assistant coach. The following year he took over as Defensive Coordinator. During his time at Hampden-Sydney, the program went to five conference championships, made it to six NCAA playoffs, had 18 All-Americans, and four Old Dominion Athletic Conference players of the year. Prior to Hampden-Sydney, Dodson coached the safeties and special teams at the College of William and Mary from 2005-2006. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Western Michigan University. Coach Dodson played safety at Western Michigan University while obtaining his Bachelor's degree.
Tony Talbert begins his first year at LaGrange College as the Defensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator. Before moving to LaGrange, he coached the defensive line, safeties, special teams, and was one of the lead recruiters at Hampden-Sydney from 2021-2023. Coach Talbert played linebacker and safety at Hampden Sydney College from 2016-2020.
Michael McCarty is also beginning his first year at LaGrange College as the Offensive Coordinator. Most recently, he was the Head Coach at his alma mater, Sumiton Christian High School. He was the 2015 Sun Conference coach of the year after leading Point University to a 9-2 regular season record. Coach McCarty played wide receiver at Troy University from 2001-2004 before finishing his playing career at the University of West Alabama. He is also in the Walker County Sports Hall of Fame.
Taking over the offensive line this year is Chuck Ehret. Most recently, he was at Manchester University, a NCAA Division III institution in Northern Indiana. There he began as the Special Teams Coordinator and was promoted to Offensive Coordinator in 2021. During Ehret's time at Manchester, the Spartan Offense broke 16 school records.
Zachary Williams-Cooper starts his first year as the Defensive Line Coach for the LaGrange College football team. His last position was the Defensive Coordinator of the sprint football team at Alderson Broaddus University. He started his coaching career as the Assistant Defensive Line Coach for the Arena Football League's Tampa Bay Storm in 2015 and has been coaching football since.
Jeremy Batten joins this year's staff as coaching wide receivers. He also comes from Anderson Broaddus University, where he coached wide receivers for the sprint football team. Batten also spent time coaching tight ends at North Carolina Wesleyan University. He was a two-year starter at wide receiver at Belhaven University where he accounted for the second most receptions on the team and helped them achieve the best record in school history.
The defensive backs coach for the LaGrange College football team this year is LaQuentin Taylor. Along with Coach Coop and Coach Batten, Coach Taylor also comes from Alderson Broaddus University. There he worked with the sprint football team coaching the defensive backs and was the Equipment Coordinator. He has over a decade of coaching experience and implementing comprehensive weight regimens at the programs he has worked for. He is also a U.S. Navy veteran.
