Tom Anthony
Defensive Assistant Coach
First Season
(Augustana (Ill.), 2006)

    Tom Anthony serves as Youngstown State’s defensive graduate assistant. Anthony, a former NCAA Division III All-American, assists in all aspects of coaching the defense while working primarily with the linebackers and the defensive line.
    Anthony spent last season as an assistant coach on the NAIA level at St. Francis (Ill.). For the Fighting Saints he served as the wide receivers coach under Mike Uremovich. Two of his freshmen receivers earned all-conference accolades in 2007.
    Prior to coaching at St. Francis in 2007, he spent a year coaching the defensive backs at Augustana (Ill.). In 2006, the Vikings captured the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Championship with a 7-3 overall mark and a 6-1 conference record.
    A native of Bettendorf, Iowa, he had a stellar career at Augustana.
    In 2005, he was a first-team Division III All-America selection while being named the North Region Defensive Back of the Year. He was tabbed first-team all-conference and the CCIV’s Most Valuable Player recording 13 inceptions. He had interceptions in eight contests, including three against Wheaton and North Park. He returned a pick 92 yards for a touchdown against Elmhurst. The Vikings finished the year 10-2 reaching the NCAA Division III playoffs while winning the CCIW title. He had 42 total tackles, including 33 solo stops and eight pass breakups.
    As a junior he played both offense and defense finishing 14 total tackles and two interceptions in seven games played. He caught eight passes for 232 yards and scored three touchdowns. As a freshman in 2002, he had 33 receptions for 675 yards and six touchdowns to earn second-team All-CCIW honors. In 2003 he attended Ellsworth Community College where he caught 33 passes for 633 yards and eight touchdowns.
    Following his playing career he played for three Arena Football teams. In the spring of 2006 he was a member of the New York Dragons (AFL), in the summer of 2006 he played for the Albany Conquest (AF2) and was a member of the Quad City Steamwheelers (AF2) in 2007. At Albany he had 883 yards receiving and 19 touchdowns.
    He earned his degree in Political Science from Augustana in the fall of 2005 and received his master's in management from St. Francis (Ill.) in May.
    A standout at Pleasant Valley High School in Bettendorf, he earned nine letters – two in football, three in basketball and four in track and field.
    He is married to the former Kelsey Dreyer. His brother Chris Anthony has been an Arena Football player since 2002 after a standout career at Iowa State.