Edwards Releases Football Assistant Hirings

ATHENS, W.Va. – New Concord University head football coach Cody Edwards has announced five additions to his first coaching staff at CU.

Edwards brings with him two assistants who worked alongside at Western Carolina in Ethan Harris (defensive backs) and Dante Johnson (defensive line). Edwards will coach the linebackers at Concord and call the defense during the 2025 season.

Edwards also released the hirings of Justin Zimmerman (offensive coordinator), Peyton Cox (offensive line) and Chris Belcher (tight ends) on the offensive side of the ball.

Below is a short bio on each new assistant to the Concord football program.

Justin Zimmerman – Offensive Coordinator – Last Coaching Stop: West Virginia Wesleyan (OC)
Zimmerman comes to Concord from fellow Mountain East Conference school West Virginia Wesleyan. He spent this past fall calling the offense for the Bobcats. The graduate of Averett University in 2009 has worked primarily with wide receivers throughout his coaching career with stops at Division II schools Carson-Newman, Maryville and Tusculum. At C-N, Zimmerman also served as the Eagles' recruiting coordinator while coaching Braxton Westfield to All-American honors at wide receiver. He got his start in coaching in 2011 at East Stroudsburg in Pennsylvania.

Chris Belcher – Tight Ends Coach – Last Coaching Stop: Princeton HS (WV) (OC)
Belcher was the mastermind of the offense at nearby Princeton High School. Over the last two years, Belcher's offenses averaged 400 yards per game while going 24-3. In 2023, Belcher helped coach wide receiver Dom Collins to the Kennedy Award—the West Virginia High School Player of the Year. Additionally, Belcher's quarterback, Chance Barker, earned Class AAA All-State in each of the class two seasons. And Belcher tutored Brad Mossor to All-State honors each of the last two seasons. Led by Belcher calling the offense, Princeton made the state playoffs each of the last five years, advancing to the at least the semifinal round the last two falls.

Peyton Cox – Offensive Line – Last Coaching Stop: Auburn (Quality Control)
Cox comes to Athens from Auburn University. Cox worked with the Tigers' offensive line as a quality control coach. Prior to his time On The Plains, Cox spent time as the assistant tight ends coach at Division I FCS Northwestern State. The native of New Orleans was a former walk-on offensive lineman for Ole Miss before earning a scholarship with the Rebels. He graduted from Ole Miss in 2021. 

Ethan Harris – Defensive Backs – Last Coaching Stop: Western Carolina (Quality Control)
Harris worked on the defensive side of the ball with Edwards at WCU as a quality control coach for the last two seasons. A two-year letter winner for the Catamounts, Harris transitioned into a coaching role after the 2021 season. Harris also had a brief coaching stop at Division II Tiffin University in Ohio, working with the defensive line. 

Dante Johnson – Defensive Line – Last Coaching Stop: Western Carolina (Quality Control)
Johnson bounced around the defensive side of the ball as a quality control coach. And even though Johnson was only a full-time coach at WCU for two years, he was an undergraduate student assistant coach for five years prior. In addition to his defensive knowledge, Johnson spent time working with the Western Carolina special teams.
As Coach Edwards continues to fill out his staff, please check back in to cumountainlions.com for updates.