Texas A&M - Kingsville Athletics

A mastermind of one of the top defenses in the NCAA Division II ranks, Texas A&M-Kingsville University defensive coordinator David Calloway was promoted to the position of head football coach in December of 2012. 

He became the ninth head coach in the history of the Javelinas and enters his second season at the helm of TAMUK football in 2014.

Calloway guided the Javelinas to a 21-14 victory over Central Washington University in his head coaching debut on Sept. 7, 2013. Against the Wildcats, Calloway called for a trick play with 6:48 remaining in regulation and the game tied at 14-14. Senior kicker Matt Stoll faked a field goal attempt and ran 17 yards to lead the Javelinas to its first win in the David Calloway era.  
 
His defense came up big to cut CWU’s rally short as Lamont Hills recovered a rumble at the two-yard line with less than 10 seconds to go. Linebacker Brandon James recorded 12 tackles in the season-opening victory.
 
The win led to Lone Star Conference Special Team Player of the Week honors for Stoll and Defender of the Week honors for James.
 
In the annual Lone Star Conference Festival contest, the Javelinas took on the defending Mexican national champions Monterrey Tech and put on an offensive showcase. Led by wide receiver Robert Armstrong’s school-record 18 catches for 177 yards and four touchdowns, Texas A&M-Kingsville defeated MT 40-37 in triple overtime at AT&T Stadium. Although the contest was considered an exhibition game, Armstrong and Anthony Washington were recognized by the LSC, earning co-Offensive Player of the Week honors and Special Team Player of the Week honors, respectively. Washington opened the exhibition with the fifth 100-yard kickoff return in school history.
 
In the first home game under Calloway, Texas A&M-Kingsville amassed 577 yards of total offense en route to a 52-32 win over McMurry College. Greg Pitre led the way with 10 carries for 180 yards and two touchdowns while Aaron Bueno rushed for 88 yards.
 
The Javelinas jumped out to an early lead, scoring 28 points in the first quarter. It was the first time since Sept. 12, 2009 against Central Oklahoma that TAMUK scored 28 points in a quarter.
Despite its tough finish, seven players were honored with postseason accolades.
 
As defensive coordinator from 2007-12, the Javelina defense built his Hoggie charges into one of the top units against the run. Kingsville has led the Lone Star Conference in rushing defense four of the last six years including the 2012 season. 

During the span, the defensive unit finished first, seventh, 13th and 34th in the nation in rushing yards allowed. His 2010 defense set a single-season record by allowing just 57 yards rushing a game. In 2011, his Hoggie defense suffered several key injuries, but overcame them to finish first in rushing defense in the conference and second in total defense. 

Calloway coached a pair of All-Americans in 2011, Jeremy Aguilar and Roderick Benman. Aguilar led the team in tackles and had 14 tackles for a loss en route to being named the LSC Linebacker of the Year. Benman, a defensive end, finished in the top five in the country in sacks with 12.0, the most by a Javelina since 1993. 

The 2010 season was a fantastic one for Calloway and his defensive unit. They did not allow more than 10 points in a game through the first four weeks of the season that included a 16-7 win at #1 Northwest Missouri State. They ended up leading the nation and setting a school record by holding opponents to only 57.0 rushing yards per game. The defense led the Lone Star Conference in points allowed (16.0), total defense (252.1), pass defense (195.1), pass defense efficiency (107.0) and opponent first downs (14.7).

Under Calloway’s guidance, the defense has had multiple players earn conference, regional and national honors. Over 27 defensive players have earned All-Lone Star Conference recognition in his tenure as defensive coordinator. Two players – Tressor Baptiste (2010) and Aguilar (2011) – were each named Linebacker of the Year. In 2008, Jimmy McQueen-Sadler, who spent time in camp with the Houston Texans in 2012, was named Co-Defensive Lineman of the Year by the Lone Star Conference and teammate Jabir Perkins was named Defensive Back of the Year. 

Defensive players have received 17 All-America honors in Calloway’s tenure and two were named Academic All-America including Zane Brown in 2012, who is now a graduate assistant coach with the Javelinas after a stellar career as a defensive lineman.

Throughout his tenure the Javelina defense has come up big in crucial games. They limited preseason No. 2 Northwest Missouri State to just seven points in the 2010 opener. In 2008 the defense held fourth-ranked Delta State to just one field goal.

Calloway came to Texas A&M-Kingsville after serving a year as the defensive line coach at Southeastern Oklahoma. He was originally promoted to defensive coordinator for the Savage Storm after Bo Atterberry came to Kingsville following Keith Baxter. He was named the Javelinas defensive leader when Atterberry was chosen as the team’s ninth head coach.

Calloway was the defensive coordinator at his alma mater Langston University in Oklahoma during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. He also coached the defense at Hastings (Neb.) College from 2000 through 2003. He began his coaching career at Lane College as the linebackers coach after a sensational career.
 
Calloway was a four-year letterwinner at Langston and earned his undergraduate degree in broadcasting and journalism in 1997. He received his graduate degree from Hastings.