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Andre Coleman, a former NFL wide receiver who excelled as a kick returner, is in his fourth season as an assistant coach for Head Coach Eric Wolford. In 2011, Coleman assumed the role of wide receivers coach after working with the tight ends in 2010. He also work with YSU's kickoff and punt returners.

In 2012, many new faces stepped up on the unit. With no seniors and only one junior available, 109 grabs were made by freshmen and sophomores. The group of six - Christian Bryan, Andrew Williams, Andre Stubbs, Kintrell Disher, Marcel Caver and Michael Wheary - had 1,434 yards and combined for eight touchdowns on the campaign.

Stubbs was one of the top all-purpose players on team and played a huge role in the win at Pittsburgh. Williams caught fire in the second half of the season and will be an impact player for quarterback Kurt Hess in 2013. Bryan has been a mainstay in the starting lineup appearing in 22 straight contests. He has also caught a pass in every game in his Youngstown State career.

The return of veteran Jelani Berassa, who has missed two of the past three years because of knee injuries, will boost the unit as well. In his career, he has 41 receptions for 600 yards and eight TD receptions.

YSU posted a 7-4 overall mark in 2012 highlighted by a 31-17 win at Pittsburgh, the program's first-ever win over a BCS opponent.

In 2011, the receiving corps was young, but featured a solid all-around year for a record-setting offense. Receivers caught 22 of a school-record 27 touchdown passes in 2011. YSU's 227.5 yards passing per game was the second most in school history and the highest per game average since 1972. Also, the 2,503 total passing yards were the second most in school history.

Of those 2,503 yards and 190 receptions, wide receivers accounted for 124 catches and 1,949 yards. Leading the way was Bryan, who set freshmen school marks with 46 receptions and 722 yards. His 722 yards were the most by a freshman at the FCS level in 2011. Not to be outdone, Berassa caught a team-best eight touchdowns. He had 37 grabs for 552 yards while Kevin Watts caught 28 passes for 381 yards and three scores.

In his first year in 2010, the Penguins' tight ends combined for 17 receptions and two touchdowns with veteran David Rogers and redshirt freshman Carson Sharbaugh seeing the bulk of the action. YSU's offense set a then school record by averaging 412 yard per game, including 215 on the ground as the tight ends proved vital to the unit's blocking schemes.

Coleman, who graduated from Hickory High School in nearby Hermitage, Pa., played on the offensive unit at Kansas State with YSU Head Coach Eric Wolford in the early 1990's.

After a stellar collegiate and high school career, Coleman spent five years in the NFL playing for San Diego, Seattle and Pittsburgh. As a kickoff returner, he had 193 returns for a total of 4,446 yards and scored four touchdowns. As a punt returner, he had 43 returns for 384 yards and a score. In 56 career games played, he caught 44 passes for 613 yards and three touchdowns in his NFL career. A two-time Pro Bowl Alternate, Coleman was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month on four occasions.

As a member of the Chargers in 1994, Coleman helped San Diego win the AFC Championship and an appearance in Super Bowl XXIX. Against San Francisco, he established eight Super Bowl records, including a then-record 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. In the game he returned eight kickoffs for a total of 244 yards.

As a rookie that year he returned 49 kickoffs for 1,293 yards and two touchdowns. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie squad as a kick returner.

During the 1995 season, Coleman added punt returns to his repertoire. For the Chargers he returned 62 kickoffs for 1,411 yards, including two touchdowns and had 28 punt returns for 326 yards and a score.

In 1996, he had his most productive campaign as a wide receiver catching 36 passes for 486 yards and two scores. He returned 55 kickoffs for 552 yards on the season.

He played 10 games in 1997, two with Seattle and eight with the Steelers. Combined he returned 27 kickoffs for 487 yards, 24 of which came with Pittsburgh. In 1998, he returned 10 punts for 326 yards and a touchdown and caught four passes for 49 yards for the Black and Gold in four games.

At Kansas State, Coleman accumulated 3,443 all-purpose yards in his 43-game career. He caught 95 passes for 1,556 yards; rushed seven times for 67 yards; returned 27 punts for 362 yards and returned 60 kickoffs for 1,458 yards. He caught 12 touchdown passes in his career. As a senior, he was a first-team All-Big Eight selection as a wide receiver catching 42 passes for 761 yards and six TDs.

He was drafted by the Chargers in the third round of the 1994 NFL Draft as the No. 70 pick overall following his senior campaign.

After retiring from the NFL, Coleman moved to Atlanta, Ga., where he became active in residential and commercial real estate. He has also been involved in many successful business ventures and worked for New Era Sports Consultants, a company which provided representation to professional football players.

In high school, Coleman was a first-team all-state selection as a running back at Hickory High School. He rushed for a record-breaking 3,700 yards and 64 touchdowns in his final two seasons and was named 1990 Pennsylvania State Player of the Year. He led Hickory to its first Class AA State Championship in school history.

He earned his degree in Social Sciences from Kansas State in the summer of 2011. Andre and his wife, Brandi, live in Youngstown. He has two daughters, Kyla and Shyla.