Jovan Dewitt - NMU Blog

I graduated in ‘99 with a BS in Physics and a Minor in Mathematics. 

I was a four-year letter winner in football and an all-American and conference defensive player of the year. Some of my greatest friends and experiences come from playing football at NMU. 

Most recently, I was a college football linebacker coach at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. However, I was just hired less than a month ago as Florida International’s new defensive coordinator.

I’ve traveled all over the country coaching football and even spent a few years back in Marquette coaching at NMU. I’ve been to Northern Iowa, Florida Atlantic University, West Point, Central Florida, Nebraska and most recently North Carolina. 

I’m also a 2019 Stage 3 cancer survivor while I was coaching at Nebraska. 

I also created a recruiting app that was featured in several national media outlets and was a finalist for the Orange Bowl Award for Courage dealing with my cancer battle. 

My time at NMU really set the stage for me to pursue a career in coaching from connections in the business to the mentorship I received there.  

Most of my support came through the avenue of athletics - I didn’t have much time for other organizations. 

My advice for students of color is to get more involved in campus events become a part of the university.