Andrew Faison joined the Norfolk State football coaching staff in 2016. He coaches the Spartans’ tight ends in addition to serving as associate head coach.
For the past two years, Faison has mentored the Spartan tight ends. In 2019, two of Faison’s pupils, Shawn McFarland and Anthony Williams, proved to be one of the most formidable pairs of tight ends in the MEAC. The two combined for 29 catches, 328 yards and four touchdowns while playing a key role in NSU’s highest scoring Division I offense. McFarland earned first-team All-MEAC honors.
Faison worked with the Spartan inside linebackers in his first two seasons with the program (2016-17). Two of his pupils earned All-MEAC honors. Kyle Archie was twice an All-MEAC third-team pick (2016-17), while Anthony Smith was a second-team All-MEAC selection in 2017 after leading the MEAC and ranking fifth in the nation in total tackles.
Faison joined the NSU staff after two seasons as associate head coach and linebackers coach at Delaware State.
Prior to his time at DSU, Faison spent 11 seasons as head coach at Virginia State (2002-12), where he compiled a 58-52 overall record. VSU posted five winning seasons under Faison's leadership. His best season came in 2010, when he led the Trojans to an 8-3 overall record, the CIAA Northern Division title and a berth in the conference championship game. Four VSU players earned first-team All-CIAA honors in 2010, including the league's Special Teams Player of the Year, Justin Parker. Faison garnered CIAA Coach of the Year honors that season, as well.
From 1995 to 2002, Faison was defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Winston-Salem State University. During Faison's tenure at Winston-Salem, the Rams captured two CIAA championships, three conference Southern Division titles, two Pioneer Bowl appearances (pitting the CIAA champion vs. SIAC champion) and one Pioneer Bowl championship.
In 1987 and '88, Faison was defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Virginia State. The Trojans captured the CIAA North title in each of those years.
Faison was a star defensive back at Virginia State. He set a team record with 28 tackles vs. South Carolina State in 1980. That season, he was a team captain and was selected as the Trojans' Defensive MVP. He was inducted into the Virginia State University Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.
Faison holds two degrees from Virginia State. He earned a bachelor's in administration criminal justice in 1981 and a master's in guidance and counseling in 1986.
He and wife Sheryl have two children: a son, Andrew, who played linebacker at Virginia State; and a daughter, Brittany.
