Defensive Staff
Jon Berlin, Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinat...
- (704) 894-2371
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- (704) 894-2371

Recruiting Areas
Tennessee
Georgia
Jon Berlin enters his third season as Davidson's Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, and Linebackers coach.
In his second season the Wildcat defense ranked in the Top 25 in the nation in several statistical categories: Total Defense (4th), Rush Defense (10th), Pass Defense (10th), Opponent First Downs Allowed (6th), and Opponent Third Down Conversions (12th). The defense ranked first in the Pioneer Football League in the following categories: Scoring Defense, Total Defense, Rush Defense and Opponent first downs. Additionally, the defensive unit was second in the PFL in Pass Defense and Sacks.
Following the 2019 season several players from the defensive unit received postseason accolades. Defensive lineman Bryce Perry-Martin was selected to the All-Pioneer Football League First Team, while linebackers George Hatalowich and Tony Collins were selected to the All-Conference Second Team along with defensive lineman Harrison Hill. Rounding out the awards, defensive backs Dreylan Hines and Rayshawn McCall were named All-PFL Honorable Mention.
Berlin joined the Wildcat football staff after a five-year stint at Washington and Lee University where he worked with the linebackers and served as co-defensive coordinator for the final three seasons.
During his final three seasons with the Generals he helped lead the squad to a 24-10 record and a pair of ODAC titles. In Berlin’s final season the defense was 1st in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference in the following categories: Scoring Defense, Total Defense, Rush Defense, Sacks and Interceptions. Linebackers under Berlin garnered four All-ODAC and two All-South Region honors, while he also coached an All-American and ODAC Defensive Player of the Year during that span.
Jon and his wife Suzanne have three children; Hannah, Jack and Will.
Berlin Year-by-Year:
2018-pr. – Davidson (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2013-17 – Washington and Lee (Linebackers, Co-Defensive Coord. 2015-17)
2008-12 – Rostburg High (Head Coach)
2002-06 – Amherst County High (Assistant Coach)
1999-01 – Monticello High (Assistant Coach)
1996-99 – Western Albemarle (Assistant Coach)
1991-95 – Albemarle High (Assistant Coach)
Steven Jackson, Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coord...
- (704) 894-2379
- Email
- (704) 894-2379

Recruiting Areas:
Washington, D.C.
Maryland
Virginia
Steven Jackson enters his third season on the Davidson sideline in 2020. He was promoted to Defensive Run Game Coordinator in the spring of 2020 to go along with his role as Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Ends coach.
Jackson was an integral part of Davidson's defensive prowess in 2019. The Wildcats ranked among the Top 25 in the nation defensively in several statistical categories: Total Defense (4th), Rush Defense (10th), Pass Defense (10th), Opponent First Downs Allowed (6th), and Opponent Third Down Conversions (12th).
Jackson joined the Davidson staff after a one-year stint at Washington and Lee University where he served as the defensive line coach for the Generals. Two of Jackson's defensive lineman garnered post-season awards and the unit led the Old Dominion Athletic Conference in sacks (26) and rushing yards allowed per game. In 2017 the Generals defensive ranked number one in scoring and total defense in the ODAC.
Prior to W&L, Jackson served as an assistant football coach and Foundations of Technology teacher at South Hagerstown High School in Maryland from 2012-2016. In his role as assistant coach, he served as the offensive coordinator, strength and conditioning coordinator and offensive line coach.
Jackson earned a bachelor of science in physical education and health from Shepherd University in 2012. He was a four-year starter on the offensive line and was a team captain for his senior season. He was a two-time all-conference honoree, including as a senior when he received First Team All-WVIAC, first team All-Region and All-America honors. As a junior, Jackson helped led the Rams to a conference title and the NCAA Division II Semifinals.
In high school, Jackson was an all-district, all-region and all-state honoree at Amherst County, leading the Lancers to a state championship in 2007.
Jackson and his wife, Lisa, have been married since 2012.
JACKSON YEAR-BY-YEAR
2018-pr.: Davidson (Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Ends)
2017: Washington & Lee (Defensive Line)
2012-16: Foundations of Technology (Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line/Strength & Conditioning)
Ray McCartney, Defensive Tackles Coach
- (704) 894-2138
- Email
- (704) 894-2138

Recruiting Areas:
Texas
North Carolina
Ray McCartney enters his fifth season with Davidson football in 2020, serving as the defensive tackles coach.
A veteran coach with nearly 40 years of experience, McCartney joined the Wildcat coaching staff after spending two seasons at Army, helping lead a Black Knight squad that recorded 114 tackles for losses and 25 quarterback sacks.
McCartney joined the Army staff after spending 13 seasons at Wake Forest working for 2006 National Coach of the Year Jim Grobe. During that time frame, the Demon Deacons won 77 games, tied for most in school history and made more appearances in bowl games (five) than any other era in the history of the program. McCartney served as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator during his tenure at Wake Forest.
During McCartney’s time in Winston-Salem, N.C., Wake Forest won the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship in 2006 and played in the BCS Orange Bowl in 2007.
A tireless and well-known recruiter, McCartney has recruited or coached 23 players that went onto the NFL.
Prior to Wake Forest, McCartney spent five seasons at Ohio University as the recruiting coordinator and coached outside linebackers for two seasons before switching to defensive line in 1997.
From 1989-94, McCartney was the recruiting coordinator and coached outside linebackers at Ball State after a two-year stint at Wittenberg University as the defensive coordinator.
McCartney spent a season as a graduate assistant at North Carolina (1984) and Bowling Green (1985) after coaching at the high school level as an assistant coach for four years.
McCartney earned a varsity letter in 1977 at Guilford College before an injury ended his playing career. He graduated in 1980 with a degree in physical education and earned a master’s degree in teaching with an emphasis in sport management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1985.
THE McCARTNEY FILE
Hometown: Pelham Manor, N.Y.
Education: B.S., Physical Education – Guilford College, 1980; M.A., Arts and Teaching – North Carolina, 1985
Playing Experience: Guilford College, 1977
McCARTNEY YEAR-BY-YEAR
2016-pr.: Davidson (Defensive Tackles – 2018-pr.; Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line – 2016-17)
2014-15: Army West Point (Defensive Line)
2001-13: Wake Forest (Recruiting Coordinator, Defensive Line)
1995-00: Ohio University (Recruiting Coordinator/Defensive Line – 1997-00; Recruiting Coordinator/Outside Linebackers – 1995-96)
1989-94: Ball State (Recruiting Coordinator, Outside Linebackers)
1986-88: Wittenberg University (Defensive Coordinator, Recruiting Coordinator, Defensive Line)
1985: Bowling Green (Graduate Assistant, Defensive Line)
1984: North Carolina (Graduate Assistant, Strength Training)
1981-83: Randleman (N.C.) High School (Assistant Coach)
1980: New Bern (N.C.) High School (Assistant Coach)
Mark Hogan, Safeties Coach
- (704) 894-2155
- Email
- (704) 894-2155

Recruiting Areas:
California
North Carolina
Kentucky
Mark Hogan joined the Davidson coaching staff in 2018 and serves as the Wildcats safeties coach.
In 2019, Hogan coached Dreylan Hines, the Pioneer Football League Co-Freshman Defensive Player of the Year and HERO Sports All-America freshman honorable mention honoree.
Prior to Davidson, Hogan served as a graduate assistant at Texas State University, working alongside the defensive coordinator and safeties. Hogan then returned to Charlotte for two seasons as a graduate assistant, working primarily with the outside linebackers. He also assisted with special teams prep and recruiting for the 49ers.
Most recently, Hogan served as defensive coordinator for Ardrey Kell High School in Charlotte. Hogan coached the WSOC TV Big 22 Player of the Year and a pair of defensive players who signed to play Division I FCS football.
A 2012 graduate of Georgia State, Hogan played three seasons at outside linebacker for the Panthers, leading the team in tackles during his tenure. Following graduation from Georgia State, Hogan played a graduate year at the University of North Carolina Charlotte, a first year program, and scored the first touchdown in program history on an interception return.
Hogan was the 49ers recipient of the Charlotte Touchdown Club Bronco Nagurski Scholarship and named to the All-Independent first team defense. He finished his career with a total of 234 tackles, 17.5 for loss, and 4 interceptions.
HOGAN YEAR-BY-YEAR
2018-pr.: Davidson (Safeties)
2017: Ardrey Kelly High (Defensive Coordinator)
2015-16: Charlotte (Defensive Graduate Assistant)
2014: Texas State (Defensive Graduate Assistant)
Tafon Mainsah, Cornerbacks Coach
- (704) 894-3062
- Email
- (704) 894-3062

Recruiting Areas:
Florida
Louisiana
Tafon Mainsah joined the Wildcat coaching staff full time in March of 2020 and serves as the cornerbacks coach.
Mainsah served as a volunteer assistant during the 2019 campaign following a stellar playing career at the University of Richmond and in the Canadian Football League.
Following his graduation from UR, Mainsah participated in NFL camps with the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens, before landing with the Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL. While in Ottawa, Mainsah helped the squad reach the 106th Grey Cup in 2018.
While at Richmond, Mainsah served as a team captain and was a classmate of fellow Wildcat coach, Porter Abell. In his first three seasons in the secondary, he helped UR to deep FCS Playoff runs. In 2015, the Spiders reached the national semifinals before falling to eventual National Champion, North Dakota State. They finished the season ranked fourth in the STATS FCS National Poll. Both the 2014 and 2016 teams made the playoffs and finished inside the top-20 of the national polls.
Born and raised in Wichita, Kan., Mainsah grew up playing soccer and basketball before moving to Charlotte his junior year of high school, where he picked up football. While at Charlotte Catholic, he was a two-year letterman and starter, earning All-Mega 7 Conference Team and All-Meck second team honors in 2012. Mainsah was also named the 2013 Scholar Athlete of the Year.