Staff Directory
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With deep-rooted ties to East Texas, Colby Carthel was the perfect choice to become the Lumberjacks’ 20th head coach when SFA appointed him to the position on December 4, 2018. Carthel, who is a native to Texas and a four-year letterwinner at both Friona High School and Angelo State, has left his mark in the Lone Star State as both a player and a coach. Carthel, with his Texas heritage and ties, has made it a point of emphasis to recruit in-state talent.
Carthel, who has been named coach of the year on four separate occasions and took the Lumberjacks to the 2022 Western Athletics Conference Championship (WAC), begins his seventh season as head coach for SFA. Overall, he begins his 13th year as a college head coach and has compiled a career record of 91-53 (.632), and 49-25 (.628) in conference play.
Last season, Carthel led the ‘Jacks to seven wins including a 5-1 mark at home in the program’s return to the Southland Conference. Of SFA’s five losses, four were decided by seven or fewer points. Offensively, the ‘Jacks led the SLC in scoring offense (35.6 ppg), redzone offense (.935) and passing efficiency (161.87). SFA’s points per game mark ranked eighth nationally, while the success had by the ‘Jacks inside the opposing 20-yard line ranked fourth among all FCS programs.
Defensively in 2024, Carthel’s Lumberjacks boasted a top 20 rushing defense nationally (160.3) and a top 10 passing efficiency defense (111.66) for the league’s second-best total defense at 343.4. SFA forced 28 turnovers, the sixth-most in FCS, of which 17 were interceptions. The ‘Jacks were very good in third down situations managing to “get off the yard” over 70% of the time.
Eight players earned all-conference honors including second-team quarterback Sam Vidlak who was named the SLC’s Newcomer of the Year and a Walter Payton Award finalist. Vidlak’s top threat Kylon Harris was a consensus All-American, while senior Chris Campos, a first team selection, also earned All-America recognition in addition to being named a finalist for the Fred Mitchell Award.
Lumberjack seniors Jeremiah Walker, Bruce Harmon and Qualan Jones signed undrafted free agent deals following the 2024 NFL Draft. Walker joined the Chicago Bears, Harmon signed with the Dallas Cowboys and Jones inked a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The 2023 season was not your typical Carthel season as the team finished with an overall record of 3-8 and winless in the inaugural year in the United Athletic Conference (UAC). The Lumberjacks, prior to joining the UAC, spent the previous three seasons (2020-2022) in the Western Athletic Conference.
In 2022, Carthel led SFA to the peak of the WAC as he helped secure the Lumberjacks’ first WAC title in school history, defeating Abilene Christian 24-21 in the Championship game. SFA finished the 2022 campaign with a 6-5 record (3-1 WAC). The 2022 championship marked the program’s sixth conference championship, first conference championship since 2010, and inaugural conference championship as members of the Western Athletic Conference.
Under his leadership the Jacks had 24 players selected to the All-WAC teams. The highlight of the season was Xavier Gipson, who was named the WAC Offensive Player of the Year for the second season in a row. At the end of the 2022 season SFA saw two of their very own players make it onto NFL rosters. Defensive end BJ Thompson was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 5th round (166th pick), while shortly after the draft, wide receiver Xavier Gipson was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent.
In 2021, Carthel continued to show steady improvement of the SFA football program as he helped guide SFA to the next level as they finished the season with an 8-4 overall record and a 4-1 conference mark. Carthel led the ‘Jacks to a second-place finish in the WAC and to a first-round appearance in the FCS Playoffs. The ‘Jacks fell to the University of the Incarnate Word in a 35-28 overtime loss. Xavier Gipson earned the prestigious WAC Offensive Player of the Year award as a junior, while ten players were named to the All-WAC First Team, and eight were named to the Second Team.
In just Carthel’s second season at the helm of the Lumberjack football team, he helped the storied program return to their winning ways as the ‘Jacks finished the fall slate with a 6-4 record, marking SFA’s first winning season since 2011. SFA placed nine players on the Southland All-Conference teams in the program’s last season as part of the conference.
In Carthel’s first season at SFA in 2019, the ‘Jacks improved their win total by a game and had three athletes garner a total of four Southland All-Conference honors. Placekicker Storm Ruiz finished his superb career as a First Team All-Conference honoree, while Xavier Gipson and Willie Roberts, both freshmen, were named to All-Conference Third Team honors. Gipson also earned a place on the Third Team All-Conference Defensive Team as a kick returner.
The 2018 season marked his final year leading the Lions of Texas A&M-Commerce and compiled a 10-3 overall record, finishing in second place in the LSC standings with a 7-1 record. He led his team to the NCAA Division II Playoffs in the Regional Semi-Finals. Lion Football sustained its strong performance during the 2018 season, as they reached the 10-win mark for the third consecutive season. At the time, Carthel’s A&M-Commerce Lions were one of only three scholarship football programs in Texas to record three straight 10-win seasons joining Baylor, TCU, and Sam Houston. The Lions would go on to qualify for the NCAA playoffs for the fourth season in a row. It was A&M-Commerce’s fifth consecutive season in the postseason.
Through the first four weeks of the season, the Lions held the No. 1 ranking in the nation and held their top-25 ranking throughout the season. The team won 33-17 against Minnesota Duluth in the first round of the playoffs, marking the team’s third consecutive season reaching the Super Regional Semifinal round. The Lions lost 34-28 to Tarleton in the semi-final game. Carthel guided the Lions to the pinnacle of Division II, winning the 2017 NCAA Division II Football National Championship in his fifth season as head coach. The 2017 season was the most successful season in Lion athletics history, with the National Championship capping a spectacular run. The Lions defeated West Florida 37-27 in the National Championship Game in Kansas City, ending the season with a nation-best 10-game winning streak and the first NCAA title in school history.
The Lions completed the year with a record of 14-1 overall and 7-1 in the Lone Star Conference. A&M-Commerce won three straight road games in the playoffs as Super Region Four’s fifth seed. The three teams they defeated on the road came into the games with a combined record of 34-1, marking the toughest road to a national semifinal in Division II history. The Lions defeated Harding 31-17 at home in the national semifinals in front of a record crowd of over 10,000.
The Lions became the first team ever to claim the “Triple Crown” of the National Championship, Harlon Hill Trophy, and NCAA Elite 90 Award in the same season.
Quarterback Luis Perez became the first Lion to win the Harlon Hill Trophy, given to the top player in Division II football. He completed 421-of-596 passes for 4,999 yards, 46 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions and set Division II playoff records in all passing categories. Linebacker Garrett Blubaugh won the Elite 90 Award, given to the student-athlete at the championship site with the highest cumulative grade point average.
In 2017, three A&M-Commerce players – Perez, offensive lineman Jared Machorro, and cornerback Yusef Sterling- Lowe - accumulated seven All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association, Division II Conference Commissioners Association, and Associated Press.
The Lions had 29 players recognized with honors from the Lone Star Conference at the end of the regular season, including Perez winning the J.W. Rollins Award as the top offensive player in the league and Machorro winning Offensive Lineman of the Year.
The 2016 season saw the Lions achieve new heights with their third straight LSC Championship and the first NCAA Division II Playoff win in 25 years. The Lions hosted their first postseason game since 1991 and defeated Colorado Mesa, 34-23, in the opening round of the playoffs.
A&M-Commerce went 11-2 with an 8-1 LSC record. The Lions reset the school record with 29 all-Lone Star Conference honors, including Defensive Back of the Year Uriah Harris. Running back Richard Cooper and wide receiver Lance Evans repeated as first team all-LSC honorees.
In his third season A&M-Commerce (2015), Carthel led the Lions to their second straight and 22nd overall Lone Star Conference regular season title. A&M-Commerce went 8-4 on the year and earned the seventh seed in the NCAA Division II Playoffs, advancing to the NCAA postseason for the first time since 1995. The Lions dropped their first-round game at second-seeded Ferris State, 48-30.
With an undefeated LSC regular season, the Lions clinched their second consecutive conference title on October 24 with a win over Midwestern State. Postseason honors were many, as A&M-Commerce earned a school-record 27 all-LSC honors. The Lions also collected three All-American awards. Richard Cooper was named the LSC Offensive Back of the Year.
In Carthel’s second season in 2014, the Lions saw 26 players earn All-Lone Star Conference – a school record at the time – and saw six Lions earn NFL preseason roster spots.
The 2014 squad went 9-3 overall and 6-1 in the Lone Star Conference to earn the team’s 21st LSC title and first since 1990. The team earned its second straight postseason appearance with a trip to the C.H.A.M.P.S Heart of Texas Bowl, 72-21 rout of East Central. The trip was the first time since1990-1991 that the Lions made consecutive postseason trips.
The Lions opened the season with 98 points and a NCAA record 986 total yards offense. The pace saw the Lions end the season with the NCAA’s No. 1 offense in terms of total yards per game and scoring per game.
In his first season with the Lions, he led his team to a 7-5 overall record. He was the 19th head coach at Texas A&M-Commerce.
The Carthel File
Hometown: Friona, Texas
High School: Friona
Colleges: Angelo State (2000); West Texas A&M (2007)
Playing Experience: Angelo State (starting middle linebacker and four-year track and field letter winner in the discus throw)
Family: Sarah (wife), Major and Bear and Stone (sons)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2018-Present: SFA | Head Coach
2013-18: Texas A&M-Commerce | Head Coach
2006-12: West Texas A&M | Defensive Coordinator
2000-05: Abilene Christian | Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Of the 27 scholarship programs in Texas, only Carthel-led Texas A&M- Commerce and three other programs (Baylor, TCU and Sam Houston State) have had three-straight 10-win seasons in the last 10 years.
• Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year • 2018
• National Football Foundation (NFF) Gridiron Club of Dallas Chapter College Coach of the Year • 2017
• Don Hansen Super Region 4 Coach of the Year • 2017
• Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame Coach of the Year • 2017
• 82-40 Overall Record as Head Coach (D2 & FCS)
• 46-16 Conference Record
• Don Hansen Super Region 4 Coach of the Year • 2017
• Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame Coach of the Year • 2017
BY THE NUMBERS
1 | National Championship • 2017
1 | Regional Championship • 2017
1 I WAC Championship • 2022
1 I NFL Draft Selection • 2023 (BJ Thompson, 5th Round Chiefs)
1 I NFL Free Agent Signing • 2023 (Xavier Gipson, New York Jets)
3 | Consecutive 10-Win Seasons • 2016-18
3 | Lone Star Conference Championships • 2014-16
4 | Coach of the Year Awards
4 | Consecutive NCAA Playoff Appearances • 2015-18
6 | Consecutive Postseason Appearances • 2013-18
11 | Years as a Head Coach • 2013-22 46 | Conference Victories
82 | Victories as a Head Coach
197 | All-Conference Selections under Carthel
.672 | Winning Percentage as Head Coach
.741 | Conference Winning Percentage as Head Coach
| Year | School | Overall | Pct. | Conf. | Pct. | Postseason | Season Awards |
| 2013 | Texas A&M-Commerce | 7-5 | .583 | 2-4 | .333 | Live United Texarkana Bowl | 15 All-Lone Star Conference Selections One All-American |
| 2014 | Texas A&M-Commerce | 9-3 | .750 | 6-1 | .857 | C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl | 26 All-Lone Star Conference Selections Six players selected for NFL preseason roster spots Lone Star Conference Champions Five All-Americans |
| 2015 | Texas A&M-Commerce | 8-4 | .667 | 6-0 | 1.000 | NCAA Division II Playoffs First Round | 27 All-Lone Star Conference Selections Three All-Americans LSC Offensive Back of the Year |
| 2016 | Texas A&M-Commerce | 11-2 | .846 | 8-1 | .889 | NCAA Division II Playoffs Regional Semifinal | 29 All-Lone Star Conference Selections LSC Defensive Back of the Year |
| 2017 | Texas A&M-Commerce | 14-1 | .933 | 7-1 | .875 | NCAA Division II National Champion | 29 All-Lone Star Conference Selections Seven All-American honors |
| 2018 | Texas A&M-Commerce | 10-3 | .769 | 7-1 | .875 | NCAA Division II Playoffs Regional Semifinal | Harlon Hill Trophy Recipient (Luis Perez) 25 All-Lone Star Conference Selections Two CoSIDA Academic All-Americans |
| 2019 | Stephen F. Austin | 3-9* 0-9 | .250 | 3-6* | .333 | Four Southland All-Conference Selections | |
| 2020 | Stephen F. Austin | 6-4 | .600 | 0-0^ | --- | Nine Southland All-Conference Selections | |
| 2021 | Stephen F. Austin | 8-4 | .667 | 4-1 | .800 | FCS First Round Appearance | WAC Offensive Player of the Year 10 All-WAC First Team Eight All-WAC Second Team |
| 2022 | Stephen F. Austin |
6-5 | .545 | 3-1 | .750 | WAC Offensive Player of the Year 6 All-WAC First Team 11 All-WAC Second Team |
|
| TOTALS | 82-40 | .672 | 46-16 | .741 | 7 Postseason Appearances |
