Allen Gant, like his father, generated a strong playing career at the University of Michigan.
Gant then quickly transitioned into coaching after wrapping up his playing career with the Wolverines some seven-plus years ago, and now he's poised to run a defense at the Football Championship Subdivision level.
Sources tell FootballScoop that Gant is being elevated to defensive coordinator at Fordham University, where Gant spent the previous two seasons coaching linebackers for the Rams.
On the heels of a 9-3 2022 campaign that culminated with a trip to the FCS Playoffs, Fordham is seeking to build upon that success with Gant at the helm of a defense that's already produced a record-setting performance since Gant joined the staff after his strong work at Slippery Rock (Pennsylvania) and West Virginia Wesleyan College.
In 2021, former Fordham linebacker Ryan Greenhagen generated an FCS-record 31-tackle performance in a game at Nebraska.
A long-time Ivy League assistant, Joe Conlin has systematically turned around the Fordham program. After a two-win season in 2018, Conlin's first, Fordham won a combined 15 games across its 2021-22 campaigns.
The Rams are scheduled to open their 2023 season among college football's earliest games, with an Aug. 26 date against the University of Albany. The Rams also have a non-conference trip to FBS program Buffalo in September before dialing in to their Patriot League slate.