Antone' Sewell begins his 11th season as the Defensive Coordinator for the Bowie State University Bulldogs. Sewell is in his second stint coaching at BSU, having served as the defensive backs coach in 2004. Sewell also played for BSU's Bulldogs under former Prairie View A&M, Bowie State and N.C. Central head coach Henry Frazier III.
Sewell’s most recent season leading BSU’s defense may have been his most successful. He helped lead the Bulldogs to their first undefeated regular season in school history and second consecutive CIAA championship. The Bulldogs’ defense played an integral part in the team’s success, finishing in the top 10 nationally in a number of categories including: Interceptions (2nd), Tackles for Loss (2nd), 3rd Down Defense (4th), Defensive TDs (5th), Red Zone Defense (4th), Sacks (6th), Scoring Defense (7th) and Pass Efficiency Defense (9th). The Bulldogs Defense placed 4 defenders on the All-CIAA team, led by CIAA Defensive Player of the Year Demetri Morsell, Defensive Rookie of the Year Jonathan Ross and CIAA Championship game MVP Joshua Pryor. Morsell and Pryor were both named All Region and All American by several publications, with Pryor winning HBCU Gameday/Protect Your Skull Division 2 HBCU Defensive Player of the Year.
The 2018 campaign saw the Bulldogs capture their first CIAA football championship, win their first NCAA playoff game and win 10 games in a season for the first time in program history. The Bulldogs defense finished 2nd in the CIAA in passing defense and led the conference in sacks. Six BSU defenders earn All CIAA honors and defensive lineman Joshua Pryor was selected as the CIAA Defensive Rookie of the Year.
After having a down year in 2016, the Bulldogs re-established themselves as one of the best units in division 2. BSU’s defense finished the 2017 campaign #1 in the country in pass efficiency defense and ranked at the top of the CIAA in scoring defense; five players were selected to the All-CIAA football team. The 2015 season saw the Bulldogs win their first CIAA Northern division title since 2009 and earn their first playoff berth since 1989. The 2015 version of BSU’s defense was very strong, finishing in the top 15 in the country for Red Zone Defense (9th), Turnovers Gained (11th), Total Tackles for Loss (8th), Sacks Per Game (15th), Fumbles Recovered (4th) and Defensive Touchdowns (14th). The Bulldogs placed 8 defenders on the All-CIAA football team and once again saw a freshman, Devonta High, win CIAA Defensive Rookie of the Year.
During Sewell’s first few years leading the Bulldogs’ defense he continued a tradition of strong defense that had been BSU’s calling card, finishing in the top 10 in total defense in 2010 and #2 in turnovers forced in 2013. Sewell coached several individual standouts during that time, including Delano Johnson who would go on to play several years in the NFL and CFL. With his background as a defensive backs coach, the secondary was always strong led by 2010 & 2011 first team All-CIAA member Kenny Turner and 2012 CIAA Defensive Rookie of the Year Curtis Pumphrey.
Prior to his return to the Bowie State campus, Sewell served five seasons coaching the defensive backs for the Prairie View A&M Panthers. During his final year at PVAMU, both starting safeties for the Panthers were named to the All-SWAC football team. The Panthers defensive backs performed at a high level in 2008 as they concluded the season third nationally and led the SWAC in pass efficiency defense. Defensive back Anthony Beck, a first team all-conference selection, also cracked the national rankings as he finished tied for ninth with five interceptions. In 2006, opposing teams found it tough to pass on the Panthers as they fielded the nation’s ninth-best pass defense among Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams. During his first season at Prairie View in 2005, Sewell coached the SWAC’s Newcomer of the Year in cornerback Hakeem Muhammad. Muhammad, who also earned second team all-conference honors, finished the year 15th nationally and led the SWAC in interceptions.
During the 2004, Sewell returned to his alma mater, Bowie State University to coach the defensive backs. Under Sewell’s watch, defensive back Atcheson Conway was named to the All-CIAA First Team. Upon completion of his degree from Bowie State as a member of the Honors Program in 2003, Sewell began his coaching career at Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Ga. While at FVSU, Sewell served one season as a graduate assistant on the FVSU coaching staff assisting with the team’s defensive backs.
Upon completion of his degree from Bowie State as a member of the Honors Program in 2003, Sewell began his coaching career at Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Ga. While at FVSU, Sewell served one season as a graduate assistant on the FVSU coaching staff assisting with the team’s defensive backs.
A four-year letterman at Bowie State University, Sewell was named the team’s Defensive MVP in 2001 after helping the Bulldogs to a 7-3 record. After a productive senior season in 2002 in which BSU advanced to the CIAA Championship Game, he was named to the All-CIAA Second Team.
A native of New Carrollton, Md., Sewell also holds a Master’s in Counseling from Prairie View A&M. He served as a participant in the 2009 NCAA Football Coaches Academy in Indianapolis, Ind., the 2011 NCAA Expert Coaches Academy in Orlando, Fla. and the 2016 NCAA-NFL Coaches Academy in Tampa, Fla.
