Meet Allen Suber: New Associate Head Coach Is Former Player, Record Holder

Some people are lucky enough to find a place that they can call home. That happened to B-CU'S new associate head football coach Allen Suber, who is no stranger to Wildcat territory. 

Suber, 35, also is the new offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. Though he was born in Brooklyn, New York, he was raised in Tampa and knows how it feels to win while carrying the name of Bethune-Cookman University as a player and as part of the coaching staff.

In 1999 Suber enrolled in B-CU and completed his education four years later. During that time, he played quarterback on the 2002 MEAC title team that finished 11-2, including the program's first and second appearances in the NCAA I-AA playoffs (now known as Football Championship Subdivision), and consecutive victories over Florida A&M University. Few will forget the 2003 triumph where Suber rallied the Wildcats from a 28-10 halftime deficit, to a thrilling 39-35 victory. 

"This is home. It's always going to feel right...I won here, I know how to win here," - Allen Suber 

He was the 2002-2003 MEAC Offensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Walter Payton Award. Suber is listed as second all-time for the Wildcats in career rushing yards (2,897) and first in rushing touchdowns (39). Additionally, he was a two-time All-American earning the accolades as a junior (2002) and senior (2003), respectively, according to B-CU athletics).

"After I left in 2003, I was a free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars through training camp," he said. "I got cut at the end of training camp and then the Bucs (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) signed me, so I went to the Bucs for about the first seven games of the season. They released me and then I was with the Houston Texans for the rest of my rookie year and the following year. The next season I played in NFL Europe (2007) and I hurt my shoulder. I took a year off on a IR with the Texans and then they released me after that." Suber said.

"I promised myself that I would only try to come back once...I came back and worked out for the Raiders. They signed me, came back for fall camp and I failed the physical on my shoulder. At that time, I knew it was time to really begin my life work of coaching." 

Suber's coaching career started in Treasure Coast High School as the offensive coordinator. When he joined the program the school posted a 7-3 record their first year and the team had its first playoff appearance . Then the second the team won district. It was the first time in school history. 

While there, he met then B-CU head coach Brian Jenkins who brought him back to his alma matter to coach the wide receivers in 2010. The Wildcats went 10-0 that season, with only two other teams in the nation being undefeated. Auburn and Oregon. B-CU won the conference that year and in 2011 the team posted a record of 9-3. 

After 2011 Suber left and coached at different schools. He came back to B-CU last spring as associate head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. 

He said he came back for one reason. "This is home. It's always going to feel right... I won here, I know how to win here. I love everything about being a wildcat... I enjoy every single day that I come to work here," he said. "Coming back this third time around has been a great fit under coach Sims. I've grown so much as a coach and a person... I will be forever grateful."

By Karen Romero