Tom Anthony

Title

Head Coach

Tom Anthony enters his second year as head football coach at Pittsburg State University. He guided the Gorillas to an 8-3 record during his debut season in 2024, including guiding Pitt State to the program’s third straight trip to the NCAA Division II national playoffs.

Anthony returned to campus in December 2023 after a six-month absence to become the Gorillas 16th all-time head coach.

He served as Pitt State’s defensive coordinator from 2020-22 under former head coach Brian Wright, helping the Gorillas fashion a 21-7 record and an MIAA title and NCAA-II playoff appearance in 2022.

Anthony was elevated to the role of associate head coach/defensive coordinator prior to the 2022 season. He helped fashion one of the top defensive units in NCAA Division II during his three years with the Gorillas.

In 2022, Anthony’s Pitt State defensive squad led the MIAA in scoring defense (14.1 ppg) and ranked second in the conference in total defense (282.6 ypg), rushing defense (93.0 ypg), passing defense (189.6 ypg) and sacks (31). The Gorillas ranked seventh nationally in scoring defense and 19th nationally in total defense. Pitt State was one of just four defensive units to return four or more interceptions for touchdowns in 2022.

In 2021, Anthony’s squad led the MIAA in interceptions (14) and the Gorillas ranked second in the conference in scoring defense (19.5 ppg), total defense (341.2 ypg) and rushing defense (120.5 ypg).

Anthony came to Pitt State after serving as the defensive coordinator at Western Illinois University during the 2019 season.

Prior to his time at WIU, Anthony served three years as defensive coordinator at Texas Southern University (2016-18). At TSU, Anthony helped architect one of the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s top defensive units. The Tigers finished the 2016 season ranked third in rush defense and fourth in scoring defense. TSU tied for second in the SWAC in interceptions in 2018.

Anthony has been no stranger to guiding teams to league accomplishments as he also coached St. Ambrose University (2014-15) to the top-ranked rush defense in the conference – the 12th best in the nation. His previous stops included Lake Erie College, Baldwin-Wallace College, Miami University of Ohio, Youngstown State University, St. Francis University and Augustana College.

Anthony has coached four NFL players: LeCale London (Chicago Bears), Brandian Ross (Oakland Raiders), Dayonne Nunley (San Diego Chargers) and Dallis Flowers (Indianapolis Colts). He enjoyed a professional career of his own with stints in the Arena Football League with the New York Dragons, Albany Quest and Quad City Steamwheelers.

Anthony received his bachelor’s degree in political science at Augustana (Ill.) and a master’s of science in management at St. Francis. He earned first-team All-America recognition in 2005, leading the NCAA in interceptions (13).

Tom and his wife Kelsey have two children: Becca and Michael.

Anthony Family 2025