LaQuaid Manago enters his fourth season on the Spartans’ coaching staff in 2024, his third as the tight ends coach.
Manago returned to the role of tight ends coach in 2023, after coaching the offensive line in 2022 and tight ends in 2021.
Redshirt sophomore Ikeem Wright led the Spartan tight end room with four catches for 88 yards in 2023, including a touchdown reception at North Carolina Central. After a slow start to the season, Wright recorded a catch in each of the Spartans’ final four games under Manago’s mentorship.
In Manago’s lone season coaching the offensive line unit, the Spartans accumulated 1,456 yards on the ground. The offensive line played a crucial role in the team’s season-ending win over South Carolina State, allowing just one sack as the Spartans threw five touchdown passes.
In his first year with the team, Manago mentored a first-team All-MEAC selection in Anthony Williams. The Spartans’ tight ends also were key cogs in NSU’s running game, blocking for an offense that led the MEAC with 440.5 total yards, 21.2 rushing yards and 33.2 points per game – all of which set school Division I era records.
Also, in 2022, Manago served as a Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching fellow with the NFL’s Washington Commanders.
Manago made his way to Norfolk after spending two years as offensive line coach at Shaw University. At Shaw, Manago was part of a coaching staff that helped the Bears finish the 2019 season second overall in the CIAA’s Southern Division with a 5-2 league mark and an overall record of 6-4, the program’s best since 2013. Running back Sydney Gibbs rushed for over 1,000 yards on his way to second-team All-CIAA and CIAA All-Rookie accolades.
The Bears did not compete during the 2020 season due to COVID-19.
Prior to his stint at Shaw, Manago was tight ends coach under Dawson Odums at Southern University from 2015-18. He coached a pair of All-SWAC tight ends at Southern. Dillon Beard was a first-team All-SWAC tight end and honorable mention black college All-American in 2016. Another of Manago’s pupils, Montrell Jones, was a second-team All-SWAC performer in 2015.
Manago also served as the Jaguars’ video coordinator.
Manago had two stints at North Carolina A&T, first as a graduate assistant working with the defensive line and defensive backs, and then as assistant defensive backs coach, when he helped the Aggies win a share of the MEAC title in 2014. He also spent one season as running backs coach and video coordinator at Greensboro College.
A native of Charlotte, Manago attended Winston-Salem State University, where he spent four seasons as a student assistant coach. He assisted the Rams with recruiting, editing film for scouting purposes, and organizing team workouts.
During his time at WSSU, Manago was an active member of the community. He volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and worked with a mentoring program that focused on helping elementary students with behavioral issues.
Manago graduated from Winston-Salem State in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in sports management. He is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated.
