In his third season on the RMU coaching staff is John Faircloth, who tutors the defensive line while serving as defensive run game coordinator.
In 2019, Faircloth helped the Colonials post their first winning season in almost 10 years, compiling an overall record of 7-5 (.583), including a mark of 6-1 (.857) in the Northeast Conference (NEC). He was instrumental in the development of Supilani Mailei, who finished with 48 tackles, including a team-high seven for losses that totaled 19 yards, and Jared Harris, who finished with 34 tackles, including a team-high three sacks.
“Coach Faircloth came to me on a strong recommendation from a friend on the staff at Colorado State University,” head coach Bernard Clark, Jr., said. “What I loved about John when I spoke with him was the technical details of what he was trying to teach his defensive linemen. What we need back there is a guy that is going to be extremely detailed when it comes to alignments, assignments and technique.”
Prior to RMU, Faircloth spent two seasons as a defensive graduate assistant at Colorado State University in 2015 and 2016. While helping out with the Rams, Faircloth assisted in coaching the defensive line and held recruiting territories through the Midwest in addition to Virginia and Washington, D.C. He was also responsible for scouting opponents and ran the scout team.
Faircloth also coached for two seasons at Black Hills State University in South Dakota, where he helped tutor the wide receivers and assisted with special teams. Prior to that, Faircloth was an undergraduate assistant at Mars Hill for two seasons, helping the Lions claim the 2011 South Atlantic Conference Championship. Faircloth began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Pender High School in 2009.
Faircloth, a native of Erwin, N.C., earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Mars Hill University and his Masters of Education from Colorado State. Faircloth and his wife, Paige, have a daughter, Kenley, and a son, Jayden. They reside in Hopewell Township, Pa.
