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ATHENS, Ohio — With over 30 years of coaching experience, wide receivers coach Andre Allen brings a wealth of knowledge to the Bobcats' coaching staff. Allen began his coaching career at the City College of San Francisco, where after a visit with the team's head coach, he received his first offer to become a wide receivers coach. The previous coach had left the position, and it was an opportunity for Allen to begin his coaching career. Allen says after the head coach at CCSF hired him, the rest was history.
Allen worked with the CCSF Rams for 26 years. After his time with CCSF, he transitioned in his career to coach at the University of Hawai'i for a few years. In his short time as the wide receivers coach at Hawai'i, the team recorded back-to-back winning seasons and a victory at the 2019 Hawai'i Bowl. Following his time in Hawai'i, Allen most recently coached at UC Davis and Washington State for two years each.
Growing up, Allen's mother inspired him for his successful football career. She was a single mother, and watching her work ethic as a child influenced Allen's life. His mother is one of his biggest motivators.
"She was working hard taking care of me and siblings by herself," Allen said. "She motivated me: you can't take a day for granted and need to work hard. If you work hard, good things will happen for you."
The quarterbacks coach at CCSF, Dan Hayes, is also a mentor to Allen. Allen referred to Hayes as a father-figure mentor, and working with Hayes has helped him grow into the coach and person he is today. Hayes believed Allen would make a great coach at the beginning of his journey, and Allen learned a lot through him.
Allen learned of the opportunity at Ohio through Brian Smith, the associate head coach, running backs coach and passing game coordinator for Ohio. Smith was someone who worked with Allen previously. When the position opened, Smith encouraged Allen to send a resume and come in for an interview.
"I kind of know what he [Smith] teaches and the things that he likes," Allen said. "He knows how I teach, so I think it was it was a good fit."
Allen finds himself sticking to a busy schedule between football and his family, starting around 4:30 a.m. He likes to get his day started early so he is prepared and everything can run smoothly. When Allen first arrived in Athens, he said head coach Tim Albin picked him up late in the evening. He then went to dinner with Albin, Albin's wife and son, on his first day in Athens.
"We had a chance to kind of just sit down and have a conversation face-to-face, and he was everything he was on the phone," Allen said. "He [Albin] was even better in person."
Allen aims to have Ohio's receivers lead in the Mid-American Conference and bring in a MAC Championship. He also has a passion for watching his players grow not just in football, but as young men.
"I'm just happy to be here; it's been great every day since I've been here," Allen said. "It's gotten better, I'm really enjoying the place and lot of nice people. It's really been comfortable for me."
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