Ramal Faunteroy enters his third season as Defensive Line Coach at Fairmont State University after joining the program during the spring of 2018. Faunteroy also serves as the Director of Player Development and Pro Liaison on Jason Woodman’s staff.
In 2019, Faunteroy helped the Falcons rank 18th in the country in tackles for loss (8.4) and 53rd in the country and fourth in the MEC in sacks per game at 2.40 per outing. The Fairmont State defense also ranked fifth in the country against the run, allowing just 77.7 rushing yards per game, and allowed the eighth fewest first down in NCAA Division II (159). Two members of his defensive line earned All-MEC honors, including defensive end D.J. Adediwura as a first-team selection, and Glenwood Williams as a second-team selection.
In 2018, Faunteroy helped the Falcons to a 9-2 overall record (8-2 MEC) and helped defensive end Josh Ballard and defensive tackle Glenwood Williams earn All-MEC honors as members of the Falcons' defensive front. Ballard was a second team All-MEC selection, while Williams earned MEC honorable mention. The Falcons ranked 44th in the country against the run (131.1), were 36th in the country in redzone defense (.714), and 17th in the country in turnovers forced (25). The Falcons also averaged 1.55 sacks per game during 2018.
Before arriving at Fairmont State, Faunteroy was no stranger to Super Region 1 and the Mountain East Conference as he came to Fairmont State after a one-year stint as Defensive Line Coach/Run Game Defensive Coordinator at Seton Hill University. Faunteroy was also a longtime assistant at Shepherd University from 2009-2015.
Prior to spending the 2017 season at SHU, he spent the 2016 campaign at NCAA Division I Furman University (S.C.). At Furman, Faunteroy helped the Paladins rank fourth in the league in scoring defense (27.1) and total defense (373) during the season. His defensive line accounted for 8 of the team's 12 sacks, 20.5 of their 49 tackles for loss and 194 total tackles.
Prior to making the move to Furman, Faunteroy spent seven seasons at Division II powerhouse Shepherd University from 2009-2015.
During his coaching tenure at Shepherd, Faunteroy helped the Rams top NCAA Division II in rushing defense four of his last five years, and in 2015 played a key role in Shepherd's 13-1, national runner-up campaign. His top player in 2015, defensive end Shaneil Jenkins, was named Mountain East Conference Defensive Player of the Year and All-America, and was a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award - which is given annually to the top Division II defensive player.
Another former standout under Faunteroy, All-America defensive end Howard Jones, who racked up a school record 35 sacks at Shepherd, recently completed his second season in the NFL - tallying five sacks with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jones also spent the 2014 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a rookie.
While at Shepherd, Faunteroy coached 19 all-conference selections, eight all-region picks, seven All-Americans and two league defensive players of the year. The Rams won six conference titles during Faunteroy’s seven-year tenure.
Faunteroy was among thirty NCAA football coaches selected to attend the 2015 NFL and NCAA Coaches Academy and participated in the Steelers' training camp through the Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship.
The NCAA Coaches Academy was developed in 2011 as a collaborative effort between the NCAA and NFL to positively influence diversity numbers in the college game and as a way for talented football coaches to gain exposure. The academy enables college coaches to meet NCAA athletics professionals, student-athlete affairs administrations, NCAA national office staff, NFL representatives and current and former NFL players.
As a player, Faunteroy was four-year letterman as a defensive end at Shepherd - where he racked up 88 tackles, 20 tackles for-loss, seven sacks, eight pass deflections and two safeties as a junior and senior while helping lead the Rams to a pair of West Virginia Intercollegiate Conference (WVIAC) Championships.
He later played professionally with the Manchester Wolves of the Arena 2 Football League (A2FL), starting in 26 games.
A native of Washington, D.C., he coached one season at Hedgesville (W.Va.) High School and later secured his undergraduate degree in events and sport management from Shepherd University in 2011.
He and his wife, Tiffany, have four children: Rondell, D'Andre, Devyn, and Ronté.
