A former Quitman Bulldog is enjoying life these days as part of a national champion football team. Randall Fannin, a 1987 Quitman High School graduate, is one of the coaches of the NCAA Divison II Texas A&M Commerce Lion football team that won the national title.

The Lions defeated West Florida 37-27 in Kansas City.

The road to the national title was not an easy one. Unlike NCAA Division I football in which a team has to win a semi-final game to get to the championship, in Division II it is a five-week journey against ranked foes.

The Lions had to go to Minnesota twice, the state of Washington once, played one game at home and traveled to Kansas City for the final. The five-game trek included wins over Winona (Minnesota) State 20-6, Central Washington 34-31 in double overtime, Minnesota State-Monkato 31-21, Harding University 31-17 and finally the championship win over West Florida.

Fannin coaches safeties and assists with special teams at A&M Commerce. The QHS graduate said it was a tough but rewarding time. “In Division II, we don’t get the luxury of playing in a bowl game and having a month to prepare. You start the playoffs and you go for another five weeks if you make it to the finals. And our guys worked tremendously hard. They not only have football, but they still have to go to class and make the grades too. We were fortunate to have some hard-working and talented student-athletes as well as having a great coaching staff.”

Fannin started his journey in Quitman. “My dad, Brusker Fannin, was my first coach and he always inspired me to be the best I could. The reason I wanted to become a coach goes back to two of my high school coaches,” Fannin noted. “Coach Don Neighbors is one of the main reasons I am coaching today and one of my idols is Coach Tony Gilbreath. I always appreciated Coach Gilbreath’s coaching style and have tried to model myself after him. I liked how he interacted with kids and always made it fun. That’s what I try to do here. Both of those coaches have both been an important influence on me as a coach. And Coach Swann (Charles), he was a good tough coach.”

After being a multi-sports star at Quitman, Fannie went on to Waco and ran track at Baylor University. “I ran track, the 400 and 800, at Baylor. I also played football and basketball,” Fannin added.

After Baylor, Fannin took a job in Dallas as sports director at the Oak Cliff YMCA. His first coaching job was at Carrollton R.L. Turner under the leadership of Head Coach Tim Beck, who is now the offensive coordinator at the University of Texas. “I coached freshman football and varsity track. It was a good time. We won district for the first time in over 35 years,” Fannin said. “It was great to be a part of the turn-around for that program.”

After four years at Turner, Fannin went to college football at Paul Quinn University in southern Dallas County, but the program folded. “After the Paul Quinn program did not make it, I went to Prosper and coached for a year. After I left Prosper, I started my own sports training business,” Fannin said. “I was training college guys who were wanting to go on to try and play professionally.”

In 2014 Fannin started working at A&M Commerce. “A buddy of mine was at A&M Commerce and I talked to him and he talked to me about getting into the college coaching profession. I was actually at the school finishing up my undergraduate work in 2014.”

“Coach Colby Carthel is our head coach and leader. His dad, Don, is a former coach at West Texas A&M and he is also now in our program,” Fannin said. “A&M Commerce had back-to-back 1-9 years before Coach Carthel got there. That first year he was here, we went 7-5. It has been great to be part of something built from the ground up. Getting the right people in the right place has helped us become successful.”

To Fannin, it is all about being a part of young men’s lives. “Growing young men is the motto we go by. You have to get bigger, faster and stronger to compete at this level. You have to go to class and be a representative of this university,” Fannin said. “The five-week run to the title was exciting and crazy. With us, it was 16 weeks straight. It is a grind and you have to deal with injuries and with the challenge of getting your young men ready to battle each week. The kids not only had to keep working out, they had to make their classes too. It’s a long haul, but we have a system that works.”

During those five weeks, the Lions had to play a pair of playoff games in Minnesota. “Man it was cold. We even had some hot chicken broth on the sidelines to help keep our kids warm, but we persevered and won,” Fannin said.

The national final was exciting. “Just to get to that stage was special. It was incredible and exciting in Kansas City. But we knew it was our destiny and we were not going to be denied,”

What about the future? “Coaching is something I have wanted to do since my dad coached me in Little Dribblers. I have always wanted to be a coach and that is what I will always do. Right now, I see myself around here hopefully moving up in the ranks,” Fannin said. “Eventually one day, I might get back to high school, maybe when my boys are that age. I have a sixth grader and a fourth grader coming up. Who knows, I may come back and retire from Quitman someday!”

For now, Fannin is on the recruiting trail for A&M Commerce. “I get to go to area high schools recruiting student-athletes. I was able to go through Como-Pickton and visit with Coach Swann. He gave me some good advice,” Fannin said. “My dad is a great role model; he taught me to have a foundation, love your family, love what you do and do the best you can. My dad’s coaching philosophy was all for one and one for all and I have never forgotten that.” He further credited his mom, Barbara, for keeping him in line.

Fannin met his wife Rachella when they both taught at R.L.Turner. They have been married 15 years and have three children, R.J. (12), Raelyn (11) and Collin (9). His parents still live in Quitman.

From Bud Moody Field to A&M Commerce’s 12,500-seat Memorial Stadium, Quitman’s Randall Fannin stands tall, a leader of young men, a good son, husband and father and an example for all. Young people from Quitman can do great things, and Randall Fannin is living proof.