Travis Everhart enters his third season on the coaching staff at FVSU. This year, he will shift his focus to the defensive side of the ball as the Defensive Run Game Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach. Coach Everhart will also take over the role of Special Teams Coordinator for the Wildcats.
As the Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach in 2018, Everhart coached offensive tackle Darrius Hicks and wide receiver Lorenzo Smothers, who both earned All-SIAC Second Team honors. Smothers ranked second in the Conference in both receptions per game (4.7/gm.) and receiving yards per game (78.3 yds/gm.), while he stood third in all-purpose yards per game (135.8 yds/gm.). On the year, Smothers added 33 rushes for 125 yards and caught 43 passes for 727 yards. He finished with three 100-yard receiving games.
Everhart made his return to the Fort Valley State University football program after spending the 2017 campaign at West Virginia State University as the Assistant Head Coach, Co-Offensive Coordinator, and Offensive Line Coach.
Everhart goes into his 21st year of coaching, which has been spread throughout every level of football.
In 2017, he coached WV State to its first winning record since 2008 in his first year on the coaching staff and assisted with an offensive unit, which was ranked in the top 35 in the nation in multiple categories. The 2017 Yellow Jacket offense ranked #1 in Red Zone Offense – 97.9%, #5 in Completion Percentage – 67.2, #6 in Sacks Allowed – 11, #7 in 3rd Down Conversions – 50%, #15 in Total Offense - 466.9 ypg., #19 First Downs – 272, #24 in Team Passing Efficiency – 150.66, #23 Scoring Offense – 37.5 ppg., #27 Passing Offense - 268.8 ypg, #32 in Time of Possession, #34 in Rushing Offense –198.1 ypg. They also set school records in: Total Yards Per Game, Total Offense Per Game, Total Yards Per Play, Total Points Scored, Scoring Per Game, Total Touchdowns Scored, Sacks Against, First Downs, Third Down %, and Red Zone Scoring %.
They increased total offensive production in 16 major categories from 2016 to 2017 and increased total offensive yards per game from 412.5 in 2016 to 466.9 in 2017. Coach Everhart's offensive line helped to Increase rushing yards per game total from 118.2 in 2016 to 198.1 in 2017. The unit also cut down the number of sacks given up from 30 in 2016 to 7 in 2017.
Coach Everhart tutored All-Mountain East Conference First Team center Devon Bradshaw and All-Mountain East Conference Honorable Mention guard Chase Henderson. He also coached an offensive unit with a total of five offensive players to receive All-Mountain East Conference Honors including Offensive Freshman Player of the Year, running back Calil Wilkins. Coach Everhart was selected to coach in the 2018 HBCU Spirit of America Bowl in Salem, VA.
In 2016 in his first stint at Fort Valley State, Coach Everhart served as the Assistant Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach. FVSU won the 2016 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship as well at the SIAC East Division Championship. Everhart coached quarterback/wide receiver Otis Brown to All-SIAC First Team. Brown led the conference in scoring, accounting for 17 touchdowns. He also coached offensive guard Brian Cornish, who received All-SIAC Second Team honors and punter Juan Serna, who garnered All-SIAC First Team honors, leading the conference in punting.
Before his assignment at Fort Valley State, Coach Everhart was at the University of Charleston (WV) where he spent three seasons. There he served as the wide receiver coach for two seasons and coached the tight ends and fullbacks for one, while also being the Special Teams Coordinator. He coached punter Brett Benes, who was the first UC player in school history to be named to the AFCA DII Coaches’ All-America Team in 2015. Benes was also 2015 All-Mountain East Conference First Team selection with an overall punt average of 43.5, which was #1 in the MEC and #4 in NCAA DII. The UC Punt unit ranked #1 in MEC and #1 the NCAA DII in the regular season for net punt average.
The University of Charleston made its first ever NCAA DII playoff appearance in school history in 2015. Everhart coached an offensive unit that broke school records for wins in a season, points per game, yards per game, offensive touchdowns, and scored 50+ points four times.
Everhart began his coaching career at his alma mater, Capital University, where he coachedching Running Backs. Following his initial stint with Capital, he coached Tight Ends at California University of Pa. He followed his coaching run at Cal-Pa with stays at Tiffin University and South Dakota Tech as the Offensive Line Coach and Run Game Coordinator.
Coach Everhart then took the play calling reins as the Offensive Coordinator for Louisburg College, Hiram College, WVU Tech and Point University. Moving up to NCAA DI, Everhart served as the Assistant Offensive Line Coach at Kent State University. He was also the Head Football coach at Unioto High School in Chillicothe, Ohio.
Prior to starting his coaching career, Everhart was a four-year starter and letterman as a nose tackle and long snapper for Capital University in Columbus, OH. He received the prestigious Crusader Award, which is given to the player who best represents the characteristics of a champion on-and-off the football field. He went on to earn a degree in Elementary Education from Capital, graduating in 1999. During his time at California University of Pennsylvania, Everhart earned his master's degree in Geography and Regional Planning.
Everhart, originally from Frankfort, Ohio, resides in Warner Robins. He and his wife, Jenna are the proud parents of two children, Jon “Mac” McNeill and Kay Elaine. Coach Everhart is also a member of the American Football Coaches Association and the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association.
