Patrick Covington/Ron Antoine

Patrick Covington is in his second season serving as Lamar University’s offensive coordinator while coaching the offensive line. Covington comes to Beaumont after spending 10 years at Coastal Carolina working with the Chanticleers’ offensive line – the final season he accepted the added title of assistant head coach. In his first season on staff with LU, Covington led one of the nation’s youngest offensive lines through the rigors of the Southland Conference schedule. On opening day, Big Red’s starting front consisted of two sophomores and three freshmen, with a total of seven freshmen on the depth chart. By season’s end, due to some injuries, the starting front was four freshmen and a sophomore. Despite the lack of experience, the Cards young linemen improved each week.

During his time on staff at Coastal Carolina, Covington’s line twice led the Sun Belt in fewest sacks allowed and he produced 18 all-conference selections, including three All-Americans – Jamey Cheatwood, Chad Hamilton and Voghens Larrieux. His lines also protected for several players who would go on to be finalists for the Walter Payton Award.

In 2018, the Chants’ offense led the Sun Belt and ranked in the top 25 nationally in rushing yards per game, red zone offense, time of possession, first downs and both third- and fourth-down conversion

Ron Antoine joined the Lamar University coaching staff in January 2020 after spending four seasons at Texas State. He is in his second season working with the Cardinals’ wide receivers and also serves as co-offensive coordinator. Antoine arrived in Beaumont after spending four seasons at Texas State, including three years working with the Bobcat receivers. During that time, Antoine produced some of the Sun Belt’s top talent at receiver. During his short stay in San Marcos, two of his athletes garnered All-Sun Belt honors, while Elijah King became just the second Bobcat to record 50 receptions in a season since 2010.

Antoine joined Texas State’s staff after working four years as an assistant at Fresno State, where he was the running backs coach for the Bulldogs in 2015 and coached the outside receivers the three previous years. In addition to his role on the sidelines, he also served as the Bulldogs’ recruiting coordinator during his final two seasons on campus.

Antoine’s efforts produced a pair of the most productive wide percentage for much of the season. CCU finished the year ranked in the top 10 nationally in fourth-down conversion percentage (68.8), fewest penalties (52), fewest penalties per game (4.33) and fewest penalty yards (493).

During the 2015 season, the line helped CCU lead the Big South in eight different categories, including passing offense, red zone offense and total offense. That season coming on the heels of a 2014 campaign that watched the Chanticleers head back to the NCAA FCS playoffs and finish the regular season with a perfect 11-0 record and ranked No. 1 in the nation during the final two weeks of the regular season. CCU led the nation in fourth down conversions while also ranking among the nation’s top 20 in first downs, third-down conversions, scoring offense and total offense.

While Coastal’s line helped the Chanticleers set numerous records and produce several All-Americans and Walter Payton Award candidates, their biggest point pride came from preventing defenses from gaining an advantage. In 2013, the Chanticleers led the nation in fewest tackles for losses allowed per game (3.33) while also ranking among the nation’s leaders in fewest sacks allowed per game (1.33 pg).

The foundation for CCU’s front line was established early on during Covington’s tenure in Conway. During his first season, Covington inherited a veteran group which had allowed 25 sacks during each of the previous two seasons, and in his first year surrendered just seven – and never more than one in any game that season.

A 2006 graduate of Furman, Covington was a two-time All-Southern Conference selection who was rated as the No. 6 guard in all of NCAA FCS (then I-AA) football. He garnered Sports Network and AP All-American honors during his career..

He is married to the former Ann Louise Duncan. The couple has a son, Gus, and a daughter, Annie.

receivers in school history including current Green Bay Packers’ wide receiver Davante Adams. Adams was named to eight All-America teams in 2013 after shattering Fresno State and Mountain West Conference records with 24 touchdown receptions (to lead the nation). He also led the nation with 131 receptions and was second nationally with 1,718 receiving yards. Adams also set school records with 233 receptions and 38 TD catches, which were also MWC records, in his two-year career.

The Beaumont native went to Fresno after spending two years at South Alabama where he worked with the Jaguars’ wide receivers. There, he coached Courtney Smith who set multiple school single-season receiving records and became the first player in school history to be invited to the Senior Bowl.

Prior to his stint in Mobile, Antoine spent two seasons in the Southeastern Conference at the University of Arkansas. During that time, he coached running backs, fullbacks and tight ends. In his first season, the Razorbacks posted wins over a pair of nationally-ranked teams, Auburn and Tulsa. In his second season, Arkansas finished with an 8-5 record after defeating East Carolina in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

Antoine made the jump to the NCAA FBS level after two seasons at Wofford.

He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Colorado State, where he was a four-year letterman with the Rams (1993-96).

Antoine is a native of Beaumont, where he graduated from West Brook High School. He went on to earn his degree in exercise and sport science at Colorado State (1997) and his masters from Ohio (2000). He and his wife, Zenarae, have three sons, Zachary, Zavier and Zayden.