Steven Aycock embarks on his fifth season as the Golden Bulls’ head football coach. He led JCSU to its first postseason victory since 1969 with a win in the 2011 Pioneer Bowl. Aycock coached the Golden Bulls to a 6-5 record in 2011, followed by a 6-4 finish in 2012; the team’s first time with consecutive winning seasons since 1972-73.
On January 28, 2009, JCSU President, Dr. Ronald L. Carter, named Steven Aycock as the Golden Bulls’ 20th head football coach. Aycock has nine total years of experience on the JCSU football coaching staff. Prior to becoming head coach, Aycock spent the previous four seasons supervising football operations, recruiting, and coaching the offensive line.
Prior to this head coaching opportunity, Aycock gained experience as an assistant head coach, offensive lineman coach, and recruiting coordinator at JCSU (2005-08; 1995-97). He served in similar roles at Savannah State University (1997-2000) and served as a student assistant at Tennessee State University (1994-95).
Aycock continues to groom his skills by engaging in professional development opportunities such as the 2011 NCAA Expert Forum held in conjunction with the National Association of Collegiate Directors (NACDA) Convention and coaching seminars with Division I programs like Clemson University, Duke University, and Davidson College.
Since Aycock has taken the helm as leader of the football program, the team has garnered several accolades and honors. In 2011, JCSU had the first student-athlete to ever be named CIAA Offensive Rookie of the Year (Keahn Wallace). In addition, Aycock was elected CIAA Coach of the Week on three occasions during the 2011 season. Eight All-CIAA honors have been earned under Aycock, two players have received the Bronko Nagurski Award, and a student-athlete has gone on to continue his playing career on the professional level in the Canadian Football League (Kenny Strickland – Winnipeg Bluebombers).
Aycock, who has over 18 years of coaching experience, has not only brought a new energy to Golden Bulls football, but he also symbolizes a new era at JCSU. He brings enthusiasm, passion, tenacity, and a thorough understanding of football to his leadership, and he is determined to guide the program in the direction of being conference championship contenders and as well as being elite in Division II college football.
“I am determined to make Johnson C. Smith football a powerhouse in the CIAA and in Division II football,” says Aycock. “We (coaching staff) will utilize this opportunity to showcase our knowledge of the game through our coaching experience and to develop our student-athletes into better people and players.”
Aycock is a 1994 graduate of Savannah State University, where he was a four-year letterman, an All-SIAC offensive lineman for three seasons, and an honoree for Offensive Lineman of the Year by the Black College Sports Pages in 1992. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Sports Production, and he earned a master’s degree in Communications from Barrington University in 1999.
A native of Atlanta, Aycock is married to the former, Donyell Stroud, and resides in Huntersville, N.C.
