Tim Clifton, Head Coach

Tim Clifton is entering his 14th season at Mars Hill College. Clifton has led the Lions to seven winning seasons and has a career record at Mars Hill of 67-59-0. The 67 wins place Clifton third in all-time wins of all SAC head coaches. He has recorded 38 conference victories that place him sixth among all-time SAC head coaches. He ranks sixteenth in SAC coaching history for career winning percentage (.532). During the 2003 season Clifton broke the school’s record for most wins by a head football coach. He surpassed Claude Gibson (1973-82) who ended his career with an overall record of 55-37-2 (.585).

Under Clifton’s direction, the Lion offense has exploded breaking several single season offensive school records such as longest run from scrimmage (94 yards by senior Leon Williams), most PAT’s scored (37) most rushing yards gained (3,130), most total offensive yards (4,803), most first downs (250), and most points scored (327).

Clifton came to Mars Hill from Ferrum College in Ferrum, Virginia, where he had been the offensive coordinator since 1987. During Clifton’s tenure, Ferrum went to four straight NCAA Division III playoffs. In the 1988-89 school year, Ferrum was a national semifinalist.

Under Clifton’s direction the Lions have set many individual records with Leon Williams becoming the all-time leading career rusher at Mars Hill recording 2,849 yards (1993-96) and then Travis McFadden (2000-03) surpassed his numbers in 2002 reaching 2,859 career yards. Terrance Stokes became the school’s single game rusher with 252 yards against Wingate University (2000) and the school’s single season rusher with 1,558 yards in 2000. Ashley Abernathy set school records in 1993 for most yards passing in a season (1,967) and total yards in a career (6,820). During the 1999 season, Khalid Abdullah recorded a game best five sacks against the University of Virginia’s College at Wise as well as a season high 15 sacks in 2000. Toy Williams tied the school record of three interceptions against Lenoir-Rhyne College. During the 2001 season Maurice Jackson picked off nine interceptions that broke the existing school record held by Kevin Barnette and Abdullah set a new mark for the longest interception return of 100 yards on two occassions.
Clifton has had the privilege of coaching 51 All-Conference Honor Roll players, 70 All-SAC performers, six SAC Freshmen of the Year, and three SAC Players of the Year in Mike Belk (LB), Terrance Stokes (RB), and Khalid Abdullah (LB). Clifton has also been fortunate to coach six All-Americans. Terrance Stokes was selected an American Football Coaches Association All-American, Mike Belk was a third team All-American in 1995 and David Cassell, Toy Williams and Khalid Abdullah were named All-Americans by USA Football.com and D2Football.com, two Division II Internet sites. Cassell was also named an AFCA All-American for his performances during the 2001 campaign while Abdullah received the honor in 2002. After his stellar career at Mars Hill, Abdullah was the first pick in the fifth round by the Cincinnati Bengals. The Lions sent another player to the NFL this past year when cornerback Michael Grant signed a free agent contract with the Cleveland Browns.

Clifton, a veteran of 29 years, spent five years on the high school level before entering the collegiate ranks. Since joining the college ranks, Clifton has made stops at the University of South Carolina, Virginia Military Institute, Fayetteville State University, and Ferrum College.

Clifton graduated from Mercer University in 1976. Clifton and his wife Joy met while they were in school together and were married in 1977. They have two children: Myriah, age 16, and Cody, age 14. The family makes their home in Mars Hill.

Kevin Barnette
Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator

Currently the senior member of the Lions’ coaching staff, Kevin Barnette has been on the staff of his alma mater for 16 years as the defensive coordinator. He returned to his alma mater in 1988 after coaching at Wingate University, in Monroe, North Carolina.

A four-year letter winner for the Lions, Barnette was twice named to the All-South Atlantic Conference team and was named second team All-American by the NAIA in 1984. A two-time All-District 26 selection, Barnette held the school record for most interceptions in a season (8), and most interceptions in a game (3). He also received All-Conference academic honors in 1984.

Following graduation, Barnette took a job coaching football at Asheville Junior High School. He served as the defensive coordinator and also coached the wrestling team. He was also on the faculty of the physical education department. In 1987, Barnette moved to Wingate College where he was the defensive line coach for one season. The following year he went to Forest Hills High School as the defensive coordinator and taught in the physical education department. In 1988, Barnette came to Mars Hill as the defensive backfield coach. After one season he was named the defensive coordinator.

Barnette holds a master’s degree in Sports Science from the United States Sports Academy. He is also a member of the physical education department faculty. Barnette is married to the former Recy Coleman and they have two sons, Elisha and Nehemiah. The family resides in Mars Hill.

Chuck Phifer, Defensive Line

Chuck Phifer is in his 14th year of coaching for the Lions’ defensive line. Phifer is a 1991 graduate of Appalachian State University, where he was a four-year letterman and three-year starter as a defensive lineman. During his career as a Mountaineer, Phifer was a two-time All-Southern Conference Defensive End and served as the team’s Captain in 1990. After his college career, Phifer played in the Arena Football League for the Charlotte Rage for two seasons and the Albany Firebirds for one year.

He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcasting and Public Relations with a minor in Marketing from Appalchian State in 1991. Phifer is also a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Phifer is single and resides in Mars Hill.

Jonathan Sarratt
Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs

Jonathan is beginning his eighth year as a member of the Lions’ coaching staff. He returns to the Lions staff after coaching the wide receivers at The Citadel last season. He first came to Mars Hill from the University of West Alabama where he coached running backs, wide receivers, kickers and punters. Before West Alabama, Jonathan was a graduate assistant at Clemson University helping the Tigers with the outside linebackers and defensive line. He was also an offensive quality control analyst at Clemson.

He holds a Bachelors degree in Secondary Education and a master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling. Both degrees are from Clemson University.

Jonathan is married to the formetr Amy Ross of Lexington, KY. A MHC alumnus, Amy was a member of the Lions basketball and tennis teams during her collegiate career.

Tom Weaver, Wide Receivers

Tom is beginning his eighth year with the Lions. He coached the Lions’ wide receivers in 1988 and then supervised the linebackers and special teams from 1989-94.

Weaver attended Appalachian State University and graduated in 1971 with a B.S. in Physical Education. He began his teaching and coaching career at Enka High School in 1971. He then taught and coached at North Buncombe High School for 17 years where he spent the last five of those years as the school’s athletic director and head football coach.

During his first stint at MHC, Weaver earned a M.S. degree in Physical Education from Western Carolina University. After seven years at MHC, Weaver went to Erwin High School and coached football and wrestling for eight years helping Erwin end the longest losing streak in the state and was part of winning a conference championship with two playoff appearances. Weaver then went to Tuscola High School in 2003 and was part of returning that program to a winner with two playoff appearances and 17 wins in two seasons.

He and his wife Penny (a MHC graduate), live in Weaverville. His daughter Megan attends North Buncombe High School and his son Matthew is a financial analyst at Borg-Warner.

Michael Ramseur, Offensive Line
Michael returns to his alma mater to coach the offensive line. He came to MHC from Bunker Hill High School where he coached the offensive line from 2001-05. Prior to that Michael worked at West Charlotte High School where he was in charge of the linebacker corps in 2000. In 1999, he coached at St. Stephens High School where he also coached the offensive line. Ramseur began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Lenoir-Rhyne College in 1998. Michael played two season at UNC Chapel Hill before transferring to MHC in 1994. During his stint as a Tarheel, Ramseur played in both the Peach and Gator Bowls. For the Lions, Ramseur was a two-year starter at center. He graduated in 1998 with a bachelors degree in Physical Education with a minor in Business. Michael and his wife Angie have two children, Josh age 9 and Jalyn age 8. The family resides in Mars Hill.

Jermaine Gales, Wide Receivers
Jermaine is entering his first year as the wide receiver coach at MHC. He most recently came to MHC from Southern Arkansas University (SAU) where he served as the wide receivers coach. Jermaine was a two-year letterman as a wide receiver at Mt. San Antonio College before transferring to SAU in 1996. He also letter twice at SAU and helped the Mulerider’s to a 1997 Gulf South Conference Championship.He earned his Bachelors degree in Biological Science at SAU in 2002. While working as a graduate assistant at SAU, Jermaine earned his Master’s of Education degree in Kinesiology. Jermaine is married to the former Kizzy Forrest and they reside in Weaverville.