The Thunder Football opens their 2019 season on Saturday, August 24 with a home game against Minnesota State-Fergus Falls, kick-off is set for 7:00 p.m. at NBC Stadium in Superior. Admission is FREE for all current FDLTCC students. GO THUNDER!
For more information about joining the Thunder Football program, contact Head Coach Robert Smith at 218–879–0866 or via email to robert.smith@fdltcc.edu.
Thunder Football Player Welcome Letter
Thunder Football Head Coach Robert Smith
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College announced that Robert Smith has been hired as Head Coach of the Thunder Football team. Smith immediately began his appointment in early April and will lead the Thunder Football Program into the 2019 season.
Smith is no stranger to the Thunder Football program, having served as Defensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach during the 2018 season. He takes over the program from former Head Coach Davin Depoe who led the Thunder to a 3-6 record and a conference playoff berth last season.
Prior to becoming head coach of the Thunder, Smith started his coaching career while still in high school in Arcadia, Florida, and worked his way up the ranks through high school and college to his current position with the Thunder. He served in various assistant coach roles at DeSoto High School in Arcadia, Florida; at Capital High School in Olympia, Washington; and at Bishop Ireton High in Alexandria, Virginia. He was offensive coordinator/assistant coach at Vermilion Community College in Ely, Minnesota, prior to joining the Thunder Football staff for the 2018 season.
“I’m looking forward to developing and coaching our student athletes as persons, rather than focusing on just the athlete portion of playing intercollegiate sports,” said Smith. “Developing good personal habits like studying effectively, time and financial management skills, building positive relationships, and creating a plan for our players’ futures will be important to our Thunder program.”
Smith admits he is an offensive-minded coach, typically using a simple-to-learn system but with advanced schemes that feature the strengths of players on the roster.
“I like to dictate the tempo of games with offense,” said Smith. “Our players will learn a solid foundation of our game plan, but they will need to read defenses quickly and adjust on the fly when at the line of scrimmage.
We’ll be balanced between run and pass, and we’ll be ready to take advantages when we see them on the field.”
Smith has already been working the recruiting component of being a college head coach, aiming for a well-rounded roster of one-way position players for the 2019 season. He also has been overseeing the off-season workout program with the returning Thunder players and is lining up assistant coaches and program staff.
“Any time you have the opportunity to be a head coach at the college level, it’s a blessing,” said Smith. “It’s even better to coach at a school like Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College where employees truly care about the student athletes. After being here for a season as an assistant coach and meeting with the administration, I can see that our visions for student success align.”
Smith also has experience playing college football. He was a starting running back at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, earning academic all-conference honors and a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communication. Smith is also the Head Coach of the Thunder Women’s Basketball team and resides in Cloquet.
Student-Athlete Inquiry Form (Please complete the online form if you are interested in playing for the Thunder.)
Coaching Staff
Athlete Honors
Team Statistics
Home games will have live radio and online streaming broadcasts on WKLK-FM, 96.5 FM. Click on the “Listen Live” button on the Northwoods Radio web site here for the online broadcasts.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, August 1 | Thunder Football Training Camp Reporting Day | Thunder Field | |
| Monday, August 5 | Thunder Football Training Camp On Field Activities | Thunder Field | |
| Saturday, August 24 | Minnesota State-Fergus Falls | HOME at NBC Stadium, Superior | 7:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, August 31 | North Dakota State College of Science | at Wahpeton, ND | 2:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, September 7 | Vermilion Community College (Family Day Celebration) | HOME at NBC Stadium, Superior | 5:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, September 14 | Itasca Community College | HOME at Egerdahl Field, Proctor, MN | 7:00 p.m. |
| Bye Week | |||
| Saturday, September 28 | Central Lakes College | at Brainerd, MN | 1:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, October 5 | Rochester Technical & Community College | at Rochester, MN | 7:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, October 12 | Mesabi Range Technical & Community College | at Mountain Iron, MN | 1:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, October 19 | Minnesota West Technical & Community College | HOME at Egerdahl Field, Proctor, MN | 2:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, October 25 | MCAC Postseason Playoff Game | To be determined | |
| # | Player | Position | Hometown | High School | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Roster Coming Soon! | ||||||
| 52 | Emani Douglas | OL | Orlando, FL | Evans High School | 2 | |
| 27 | Hero Douglas | CB | Austin, TX | NYDS Charter | 2 | |
| 50 | Saige Humphrey | OL | Cass Lake, MN | Cass Lake-Bena High School | 2 | |
| 79 | Rashaad Inge | DE | Ruther Glen, VA | Massaponax High School | 2 | |
| 29 | Carl Jones | RB | Chicago, IL | Kenwood High School | 2 | |
| 51 | Dante McCormick | FB | Cache, OK | Cache High School | 2 | |
| 40 | Rayshaad Roddy | DE | Cincinnati, OH | Mt. Healthy High School | 2 | |
| 67 | Marlo Tillman | DT | Orlando, FL | Jones High School | 2 | |
| 14 | Roderick Washington | WR | Austin, TX | Del Valle High School | 2 | |
| Coach | Coaching Position | Hometown | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Smith | Head Coach | Arcadia, FL | ||
| Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator | ||||
| Assistant Coach/Strength & Conditioning Coordinator/Running Backs & Linebackers | ||||
| Assistant Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/Quarterbacks | ||||
| Assistant Coach/Defensive Coordinator | ||||
| Assistant Coach | ||||
| Statistician | ||||
 |
Charlene Heule | Athletic Trainer, MS, ATC, ATR | Seventh Year | Cloquet, MN |
| Season | Player | Hometown | Honor/Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Trebian Suggs | Pensacola, FL | Eastern Division, Special Teams Player of the Week |
| 2018 | Armani Ceballos | Burtonsville, MD | Eastern Division, Offensive Player of the Week |
| 2018 | Trebian Suggs | Pensacola, FL | Eastern Division, Offensive Player of the Week |
| 2017 | Javan Chappell | Ocala, FL | MCAC All-Academic Team Honors |
| 2017 | Artis Fountain | Gonzales, LA | MCAC All-Academic Team Honors |
| 2017 | Hector Hernandez | Dallas, TX | MCAC All-Academic Team Honors |
| 2017 | Lavell Jackson | Dallas, TX | MCAC All-Academic Team Honors |
| 2017 | Xavier Lewis | Baton Rouge, LA | MCAC All-Academic Team Honors |
| 2017 | George Marfo | Haines City, FL | MCAC All-Academic Team Honors |
| 2017 | Marquise Matthews | Baltimore, MD | MCAC All-Academic Team Honors |
| 2017 | Lorine Parker | Zephyrhills, FL | MCAC All-Academic Team Honors |
| 2017 | Dorian Pitt | Adairsville, GA | MCAC All-Academic Team Honors |
| 2017 | Tristian Snow | Pensacola, FL | MCAC All-Academic Team Honors |
| 2017 | Lorine Parker | Zephyrhills, FL, Zephyrhills High School | NJCAA All-Region 13 Football Team |
| 2017 | Lorine Parker | Zephyrhills, FL, Zephyrhills High School | MCAC Eastern All-Division, First Team |
| 2017 | Tyrik’ Carmickle | Junction City, KS, Junction City High School | MCAC Eastern All-Division, First Team |
| 2017 | Javon Chappell | Ocala, FL, Vanguard High School | MCAC Eastern All-Division, Second Team |
| 2017 | Jeff Krisik | Red Cliff, WI, Bayfield High School | MCAC Eastern All-Division, Second Team |
| 2017 | Hector Hernandez | Dallas, TX, A+ Academy | MCAC Eastern All-Division, Second Team |
| 2017 | Christopher Fitzpatrick | Tampa, FL, Alonso High School | MCAC Eastern All-Division, Second Team |
| 2017 | Dorian Pitt | Adairsville, GA, Adairsville High School | MCAC Eastern All-Division, Second Team |
| 2017 | Artis Fountain | Gonzalez, LA, East Ascension High School | MCAC Eastern All-Division, Honorable Mention |
| 2017 | George Marfo | Haines City, FL, Ridge Community High School | MCAC Eastern All-Division, Honorable Mention |
| 2017 | Tyrik Carmickle | Junction City, KS, Junction City High School | Eastern Division, Defensive Player of the Week |
| 2017 | Lorine Parker | Zephyrhills, FL, Zephyrhills High School | Eastern Division, Offensive Player of the Week |
| 2016 | Dalton Bryant | Hinesville, GA | MCAC All-Division, First Team |
| 2016 | Damon Garner | LA, Port Allen High School | MCAC All-Division, First Team |
| 2016 | Jeff Andrew | Hinesville, GA, Bradwell Institute | MCAC All-Division, Second Team |
| 2016 | Jack Marsh, Jr. | Sedalia, MO, Smith-Cotton High School | MCAC All-Division, Second Team |
| 2016 | Rodney Jones | MD, Dundalk High School | MCAC All-Division, Second Team |
| 2016 | Miles Kelly | FL, First Coast High School | MCAC All-Division, Honorable Mention |
| 2016 | Javon Chappell | Ocala, FL, Vanguard High School | MCAC All-Division, Honorable Mention |
| 2016 | Tyrone Eastern | MO, Pattonville High School | MCAC All-Division, Honorable Mention |
| 2016 | Dalton Bryant | Hinesville, GA | Eastern Division, Special Teams Player of the Week |
| 2016 | Vincent Carreker | Columbus, OH, Bishop Hartley High School | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2016 | Javan Chappell | Ocala, FL, Vanguard High School | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2016 | Artis Fountain | Sandy Hook, MS, East Ascension High School | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2016 | Uriah Guy | Kansas City, MO, Grandview High School | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2016 | Hector Hernandez | Dallas, TX, A+ Academy | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2016 | Keiyaunte Lowery | Lakeland, FL, Tenoroc High School | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2016 | Jordan Miller | Chicago, IL, Lakeview High School | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2016 | Tristan Snow | Pensacola, FL, Booker T. Washington High School | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2016 | Amir Wallace | Cincinnati, OH, Mount Healthy High School | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2016 | Duane Whitson, Jr. | St. Paul, MN, Highland Park High School | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2016 | Samuel Wusu | Chicago, IL, Lakeview High School | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2015 | Damon Barnes | Baltimore, MD | MCAC All-Division, First Team |
| 2015 | Marcus Bruton-Williams | Chicago, IL | MCAC All-Division, First Team |
| 2015 | Keonte Connelly | Baltimore, MD | MCAC All-Division, First Team |
| 2015 | Te’Vaughn Hurse | Fort Wayne, IN | MCAC All-Division, First Team |
| 2015 | Josh Bender | Odanah, WI | MCAC All-Division, Second Team |
| 2015 | Logan Crowser | Cloquet, MN | MCAC All-Division, Second Team |
| 2015 | Carlton Goss | Jacksonville, FL | MCAC All-Division, Second Team |
| 2015 | Samuel Johnson | Jacksonville, FL | MCAC All-Division, Second Team |
| 2015 | Justin Lacayo | Fort Lauderdale, FL | MCAC All-Division, Second Team |
| 2015 | Jon Avril | Jacksonville, FL | MCAC All-Division, Honorable Mention |
| 2015 | Gary Brooks | Pensacola, FL | MCAC All-Division, Honorable Mention |
| 2015 | Onnie Cox | Houston, TX | MCAC All-Division, Honorable Mention |
| 2015 | Marcel Richardson | Stone Mountain, GA | MCAC All-Division, Honorable Mention |
| 2015 | Victor Rollins | Stone Mountain, GA | MCAC All-Division, Honorable Mention |
| 2015 | Damon Barnes | Baltimore, MD | Eastern Division, Offensive Player of the Week |
| 2015 | Raquan Sherwood | Jacksonville, FL | Eastern Division, Defensive Player of the Week |
| 2015 | Te’Vaughn Hurse | Fort Wayne, IN | Eastern Division, Offensive Player of the Week |
| 2015 | Keonte Connelly | Baltimore, MD | Eastern Division, Defensive Player of the Week |
| 2015 | Kendarian Carter | Houston, TX | MCAC All-Academic Team |
| 2015 | Damon Garner | Baton Rouge, LA | MCAC All-Academic Team |
| 2015 | Destyn “D.J.” McNeil | Lakeland, GA | MCAC All-Academic Team |
| 2015 | Carlon Powe | Duluth, MN | MCAC All-Academic Team |
| 2015 | Marcel Richardson | Stone Mountain, GA | MCAC All-Academic Team |
| 2015 | Victor Rollins | Stone Mountain, GA | MCAC All-Academic Team |
| 2015 | Malik Williams | jacksonville, FL | MCAC All-Academic Team |
| 2014 | Jamie Fore | Jacksonville, FL | Northern Division, Defensive Player of the Week (twice) |
| 2013 | DeAngelo Dolphis | Minneapolis, MN | NJCAA All-American, Second Team Defense |
| 2013 | DeAngelo Dolphis | Minneapolis, MN | Northern All-Division, First Team |
| 2013 | Ryan Brown | ||
| 2013 | Malcom Fleming | Milwaukee, WI | |
| 2013 | David Cooper | Jacksonville, FL | |
| 2013 | Sam Merrell | Jacksonville, FL | |
| 2013 | DeAndre White | ||
| 2013 | Antonio Marshall | ||
| 2013 | Joshua Watson | ||
| 2013 | Cardan Perkins | Jacksonville, FL | Northern All-Division, Second Team |
| 2013 | Mike Cowell | Jacksonville, FL | Northern All-Division, Second Team |
| 2013 | Kamelle Gomez | Jacksonville, FL | Northern All-Division, Second Team |
| 2012 | Christopher Collins | Two Harbors, MN | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2012 | David Cooper | Jacksonville, FL | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2012 | DeAngelo Dolphis | Minneapolis, MN | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2012 | Wyatt Finifrock | Barnum, MN | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2012 | Curt Johnson | MCAC State Academic Award | |
| 2012 | Antonio Klaas | Duluth, MN | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2012 | Samuel Merrell | Jacksonville, FL | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2012 | Cody Olson | MCAC State Academic Award | |
| 2012 | Nathan Orsburne | MCAC State Academic Award | |
| 2012 | Aaron Peters | MCAC State Academic Award | |
| 2012 | Cameron Stanley | Superior, WI | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2012 | Ethan Taylor | MCAC State Academic Award | |
| 2012 | Derek Walli | MCAC State Academic Award | |
| 2012 | Andrew Youngren | Barnum, MN | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2012 | Romont Thompson | Buffalo, NY | Northern Division, Defensive Player of the Week |
| 2012 | James Victor Griffin | McDonough, GA | Northern Division, Offensive Player of the Week |
| 2012 | Anthony Makela | Hartselle, AL | Northern Division, Special Teams Player of the Week (Twice) |
| 2012 | Cody Anderson | Alborn, MN | Northern Division, Offensive Player of the Week |
| 2011 | Andrew Youngren | Barnum, MN | NJCAA Academic All-American |
| 2011 | Anthony Wood | Cloquet, MN | Fred Mitchell Award nominee |
| 2011 | Brandan Peterson | Apple Valley, MN | Northern Division, Offensive Player of Week |
| 2011 | Ronald Johnson | Detroit, MI | Northern Division, Defensive Player of Week |
| 2011 | Darnell Colvin | South Pointe, SC | Northern All-Division, First Team |
| 2011 | Ronald Johnson | Redford Union, MI | Northern All-Division, First Team |
| 2011 | Jameel Franklin | First Coast, FL | Northern All-Division, First Team |
| 2011 | Kevin Eugene | Carol City, FL | Northern All-Division, First Team |
| 2011 | Justin Robinson | Hialeah-Miami Lakes, FL | Northern All-Division, Second Team |
| 2011 | Mike Davis | Maury, VA | Northern All-Division, Second Team |
| 2011 | Brandan Peterson | Eastview, MN | Northern All-Division, Second Team |
| 2011 | David Hjelle | Albrook, MN | Northern All-Division, Second Team |
| 2011 | Cam Stanley | Superior, WI | Northern All-Division, Second Team |
| 2011 | William Brown | Leavenworth, KS | Northern All-Division, Honorable Mention |
| 2011 | Andrew Youngren | Barnum, MN | Northern All-Division, Honorable Mention |
| 2011 | Josh Hogan | Barnum, MN | Northern All-Division, Honorable Mention |
| 2011 | Jack Booth | Deer River, MN | Northern All-Division, Honorable Mention |
| 2011 | Mark Murray | Superior, WI | Northern All-Division, Honorable Mention |
| 2010 | Kyle Grimm | Barnum, MN | Northern All-Division, First Team |
| 2010 | Eric Makitalo | Proctor, MN | Northern All-Division, First Team |
| 2010 | Ronrico Ragsdale | St. Francis, WI | Northern All-Division, First Team |
| 2010 | Latrell Smith | Vincent, WI | Northern All-Divison, First Team |
| 2010 | Mike Davis | Maury, VA | Northern All-Divison, First Team |
| 2010 | Mike Darden | Madison Memorial, WI | Northern All-Divison, Second Team |
| 2010 | Tyler Burggraff | Cromwell-Wright, MN | Northern All-Divison, Second Team |
| 2010 | Joseph Dzievvit | Bradley Tech, WI | Northern All-Divison, Second Team |
| 2010 | Justin Robinson | Hialeah Miami Lake, FL | Northern All-Divison, Second Team |
| 2010 | Kevin Eugene | Edison, FL | Northern All-Division, Second Team |
| 2010 | John Green | Miami Springs, FL | Northern All-Divison, Honorable Mention |
| 2010 | Horace Terry | Tavares, FL | Northern All-Division, Honorable Mention |
| 2010 | Justin Roberts | Tallahassee, FL | Northern All-Division, Honorable Mention |
| 2010 | Daniel Mason | Osborn Park, VA | Northern All-Division, Honorable Mention |
| 2010 | David Hjelle | AlBrook, MN | Northern All-Division, Honorable Mention |
| 2010 | Nathaniel Carter | Berkley, MI | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2010 | Karus Cornett | Racine, WI | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2010 | Kevin Eugene | Miami, FL | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2010 | Eric Makitalo | Proctor, MN | MCAC State Academic Award |
| 2010 | Micheal Davis | Norfolk, VA | Northern Division, Offensive Player of Week |
| 2010 | Kyle Grimm | Barnum, MN | Northern Division, Defensive Player of Week |
| 2010 | Anthony Wood | Cloquet, MN | Northern Division, Special Teams Player of Week |
| 2009 | |||
| 2009 | |||
| 2009 | |||
| 2009 | |||
| 2009 | |||
| 2009 | |||
| 2009 | |||
| 2009 | |||
| 2009 | |||
| 2008 | |||
| 2008 | |||
| 2008 | |||
| 2008 | |||
| 2008 |
| Season | Record | Team Honors |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 3-6 | Playoff Berth, MCAC Eastern Division |
| 2017 | 1-7 | |
| 2016 | 2-6 | |
| 2015 | 4-5 | Playoff Berth, MCAC Eastern Division |
| 2014 | 3-6 | Playoff Berth, MCAC Northern Division |
| 2013 | 3-6 | 3-1 Northern Division Record; Playoff Berth |
| 2012 | 6-3 | First Playoff Team in Program History |
| 2011 | 3-6 | |
| 2010 | 5-4 | #1 Ranked Offense, Northern Division |
| 2009 | 3-6 | |
| 2008 | 2-7 | |
| 2007 | 0-9 | First Team in School History |
