Toryeon Hester enters his first season on staff for the Elizabeth City State Football program. Hester will serve as Assistant Head Coach as well as the Offensive Coordinator.
Hester joins the staff after serving as the Offensive Coordinator under Coach Adrian Jones for the past four seasons (2021-25) at Shaw. Hester spent the previous five years (2016-21) as the Pass Game Coordinator at Shaw.
While at Shaw, Hester helped lead the Bears to a winning season in 2024 increasing the offensive production by over 10 points per game and 1000 yards over total offense. Hester coached Ah’shaan Belcher to become the all-time touchdown receptions leader at Shaw.
During the 2023 season, Hester’s offense guided Sidney Gibbs, Ah’shaan Belcher, and Queonte Hilliard to All-CIAA Second Team honors. Gibbs would also break Shaw’s all-time rushing record that season amassing over 3300 yards rushing.
In 2022, Hester helped Sidney Gibbs to a Second Team All-CIAA selection including several CIAA Weekly honors. Hester’s rushing attack ranked fourth in the CIAA with over 1600 yards rushing. Andre Brandon Jr. rushed for a school-record 313 yards against Livingstone that season. Gibbs and Brandon ranked in the top-five in the CIAA in rushing average.
Hester would take over the reigns as the offensive coordinator for the 2021 season as the Bears posted another winning season going 6-4 overall and 5-2 in the CIAA. The offense tallied 324.2 yards of total offense with the lion’s share coming on the ground averaging 190.2 rushing yards per game. The offensive line led by Tyrese Bobbitt (First Team All-CIAA) and Antavious Zachery (Second Team All-CIAA) helped Sidney Gibbs to a near 1000-yard rushing season and First Team All-CIAA selection.
During the 2019 season, Hester, in his last season as the Pass Game Coordinator, helped guide the Bears to 216.4 yards of offense through the air with Kevonta Moses (TE) hauling in 510 yards receiving and nine touchdowns on his way to a Don Hansen Super Region Second Team selection and a Second Team All-CIAA nod.
In the offseason, Hester helped coach the USA 18u National Team in the International Bowl, helping the USA defeat Canada.
In 2018, Hester helped guide Kevonta Moses to a First Team All-CIAA selection, as well as, wide receivers: Daniel Bender and Marquis Gorham to CIAA Honorable Mention honors as the trio combined for 1508 yards receiving and 16 touchdowns.
During the 2017 season, wide receiver Trevante Long, under the guidance of Hester, became the program’s all-time leader in receptions (144).
Before arriving at Shaw, Hester spent five seasons as a wide receivers coach, passing game and special teams coordinator at Southern Durham High School under Head Coach Adrian Jones, where he helped lead the Spartans to three Big Eight Conference Championships, the 2015 Class 3AA State Runner-Up Trophy, the 2015 and 2013 Class 3AA East Regional Championship, and the 2013 Class 3AA NCHSAA State Championship.
As a football player, Hester played professionally in the Arena/Indoor Football League with four different teams from 2005-10 including the South Georgia Wildcats (2005-2007), the Ohio Valley Greyhounds, the Summit County Rumble (2007-2008) and the Fayetteville Guard (2008-2010).
The Durham, N.C. native was a three-year letterman wide receiver at North Carolina Central (2003-2006) where he was third on the team in receptions and yards during his career. He was a member of the 2005 CIAA Championship team under former head coach Rod Broadway.
Hester received his bachelor’s degree in Physical Education with a concentration in Fitness and Wellness from N.C. Central in 2006 and obtained his master’s in Early Childhood Education from Shaw in 2022.
Hester has been selected twice for the NCAA/NFL Coaching Academy in 2019 and 2022. He is a member of AFCA and USA National Football.
