East Texas Baptist University Athletics

Moving to college football after a successful high school career, Craig Fant enters his first year at East Texas Baptist University as the offensive line coach under head coach Brian Mayper.  Fant comes to ETBU after making a deep playoff run in the Texas playoffs with Waskom High School during the 2021 season.
 
"We are blessed to have a man of Craig's background and knowledge coaching our offensive line," says Mayper. "As a former Head Coach who is passionate about creating a family environment, Coach Fant will aid in the mission of our program and that of the University in discipling young men to grow in their faith. We are truly excited he is joining the Tiger Family!"
 
Fant arrives at ETBU after helping coach Waskom to a 13-2 season and finishing in the Texas State Playoffs in the semi-finals. The 29-year veteran of the coaching ranks, has served as the Athletic Director/Head Football Coach at Linden-Kildare and New Boston, as well as stints as an assistant coach at West-Orange Stark, Texas High, Atlanta, Sweeny, and Industrial high schools. His coaching highlights include a 22-11 record as the Head Coach at Linden-Kildare, being a part of teams that have gone 220-114-2, won 11 district championships, accumulated 27 playoff wins, made six trips to the quarterfinals, and one trip to the semi-finals. Offensively, he has guided eight teams that averaged over 35 points per game, three units that averaged over 40, and one over 50. He also coordinated four defenses that gave up less than 10 points per game on the season.
 
Three of his former players have gone on to win multiple state championships serving as offensive line coaches at Carthage, Southlake Carroll, & Texas High. As a longtime powerlifting mentor, he coached over 100 regional qualifiers, 27 state qualifiers, 10 state medalist and three state champions. He also worked as an assistant coach on two state champion and two state runner-up track teams, while also serving as an assistant on Industrial High School's 1996 state semi-finalist basketball team. In the classroom he has taught all the history genres.
 
A 1993 Cum Laude graduate of Henderson State University, he lettered three years in football, playing defensive line and being named a NAIA National Scholar-Athlete his senior year. HSU named him the Outstanding Male Physical Education Student in 1993 and he was the Spencer-Holt PE Service Award winner, as well as a was a member of the Phi Alpha Theta (history), Gamma Beta Phi (educational), and Alpha Chi (top 10 percent) honor societies. He graduated from Linden-Kildare in 1988, where he was a four-year starter on the offensive line. He and his wife Kelley have three children; Cade (a current tight end for ETBU), Clay, and Kendall. They attend the First United Methodist Church in Atlanta, Texas.