Fred Tate enters his fourth season at Tarleton State in 2025 as the defensive line coach for the Texans.
The Texans just posted a historic campaign in 2024, going 10-4 overall and 6-2 in United Athletic Conference play, winning their FCS Playoffs debut against Drake before dropping a tight contest at No. 4 South Dakota in Vermillion in the second round. On Nov. 30, 13-seed Tarleton hosted Drake in the first round of the FCS Playoffs winning 43-29 at Memorial Stadium. The Texans became the fifth team in the history of the FCS Playoffs (Division I-AA Playoffs), which goes back 46 years, to win their first playoff game at the FCS level in their first year eligible after reclassifying from NCAA Division II. Two of those five teams comprised of the four-team playoff field in that initial round of the FCS Playoffs – Florida A&M and UMass, in 1978. The other two programs are currently in the FBS; Troy in 1993 and UCF in 1990. The Texans earned the No. 13 seed in the FCS Playoffs among the 24-team field across 129 FCS programs in just their first year of championship eligibility. They had become just the first team fresh off of reclassification to make the playoffs since 2009 (South Dakota State). Tarleton State was named No. 12 in the final AFCA FCS Coaches Poll of the season, and No. 13 in the final Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll of the season. Tarleton State was ranked in both polls every single week of the 2024 campaign, from the preseason through the postseason. The Texans were just one of 11 teams nationwide to never leave the polls, joined by Idaho, Illinois State, Montana, Montana State, North Dakota State, South Dakota, South Dakota State, UC Davis, UIW and Villanova. Tarleton State started 2024 7-1, with a six-game winning streak, their best start and their longest winning streak in the D1 era. Tate’s group helped the defense rank tied-third in the country in takeaways with 29 (first in conference), including the tied-fifth most interceptions (18) and tied-eighth most fumble recoveries (11). The Texans were second in the conference in scoring defense, allowing just 24.6 points per game. Tarleton State allowed fewer than 20 points in six different games, including a 42-0 shutout on Homecoming against the UAC’s Utah Tech. Defensive lineman Brandon Tolvert earned UAC All-Conference First Team.
In Tarleton State’s final year of their four-year reclassification period, Tate helped the Texans finish 8-3 overall and 4-2 in conference play. They finished second in the inaugural United Athletic Conference, despite being picked to finish sixth in the 2023 Preseason UAC Coaches Poll. Tate’s unit had their way with opposing offenses. The Texans led the UAC in sacks (26, tied-28th in FCS) and tied-third in tackles for loss (65). He helped groom Jackson State and Florida State transfer Josh Griffis into his best colligate season, as he led the team with 5.0 sacks, 8.5 TFLs, 3.0 forced fumbles and 8.0 QB hurries. That production was rewarded with UAC Second Team All-Conference honors at the season’s end. Brandon Tolvert led all Texan defensive linemen in tackles (36) and was right behind Griffis in QB hurries (7) and tackles for loss (6). Ahmir Crowder was second on the team in sacks with 5.0, while recording 5.5 tackles for loss. Altogether, Tate’s unit contributed to a defense that topped the conference in yards per play allowed (4.76), defensive touchdowns (four, tied-fourth in FCS) and fumbles recovered (11, tied-ninth in FCS). The unit also tied for the third most takeaways in the UAC (18), while allowing the fourth fewest points per game (24.5).
The Texans’ allowed rushing yardage per game average dropped from 174.5 in 2021 to 149.2 in 2022, thanks in part to Tate’s tutelage on the defensive line. Tate helped mentor Segun Ijiyera to a career year where he was named a CSC All-American, finished with 8.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 34.0 total tackles, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, five quarterback hurries and a pass breakup. Tate also helped Blaine Hoover make his mark on the DL as Hoover finished with 43 tackles, two sacks, 5.5 TFL and two QB hurries. Hoover went on to joining the San Francisco 49ers in the 2023 preseason.
"Fred Tate has been around the block with a special mind in regards to the defensive line, and I expect great things from his group," head coach Todd Whitten said at the time of Tate’s hire.
Tate has been in the college ranks for over 25 years, most recently serving as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for Navarro College before arriving in Stephenville.
“I’m thrilled to remain in Texas and make the move back to Division I football, especially with a program like Tarleton,” Tate said at the time of his hiring. “I’ve admired the work Coach Whitten has done with this team from afar. Getting the chance to join his staff and become a Texan is humbling, and I can’t wait to join the Stephenville community.”
Tate has coached at 16 different collegiate football programs, mostly as a defensive line coach. Besides Tarleton State and Navarro, he’s been at Austin Peay (2018-19), UT Martin (2017), California (2014-16), Cincinnati (2013), Texas Tech (2012), Marshall (2010-11), Chattanooga (2008-09), Southern Miss (2005-06), East Carolina (2003-04), Middle Tennessee (2002), Texas State (2001), East Mississippi Community College (2000), Jacksonville State (1998-99) and East Central Community College (1997).
In Tate’s time at Cal, the defense saw improvement each year he was on campus. In 2015, the Golden Bears defense allowed 9.1 less points per game than the previous season and 15.8 points fewer than the 2013 campaign before Tate arrived. Tate coached up defensive lineman Kyle Kragen to an All-Pac-12 selection in 2015. Kragen led Cal with a career high 8.0 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks and six quarterback hurries. The Golden Bears depth along the defensive line was a strength of the team throughout Tate’s tenure. In 2015 they played three deep at most positions along the defensive line on a regular basis. Two different Cal players had record seasons under Tate’s watch in Mustafa Jalil and Austin Clark. Jalil started all 12 games in 2014 and had a career-high 35 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries. Clark earned All-Pac-12 honors in 2014 as he made 10 starts and had 22 of his 23 career tackles.
At Cincinnati, Tate was a part of the Bearcat squad that went 9-4 and played in the Belk Bowl. The 2013 Cincinnati defense was one of the tops in the country, ranking in the top 10 nationally in rushing defense and total defense. Tate coached DL Jordan Stepp to First Team All-AAC honors and Silverberry Mouhon to Second Team honors. The duo combined for 15.5 sacks.
While at Texas Tech, Tate played a big part in a total defensive overhaul from 2011 to 2012 when he arrived. The Red Raiders went from ranking 114th nationally in total defense in 2011 to 38th in 2012. They went 8-5 and won the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Tate tutored Kerry Hyder to a Second Team All-Big 12 selection as he finished the season with 14.0 tackles for loss.
The two seasons Tate spent at Marshall were extremely impactful. The Thundering Herd won the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl in 2011. The defense in 2011 ranked No. 1 in Conference USA and No. 5 in the nation with 7.85 tackles for loss per game. He coached Vinny Curry to First Team All-American honors and the 2011 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year. Curry was drafted in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles and played eight seasons in the NFL.
While at Chattanooga, Tate coached the 2009 Third Team AP All-American, SoCon player of the year and FCS leader in sacks (12.5) Josh Beard.
In two seasons with his alma mater Southern Miss, the Golden Eagles had back-to-back winning seasons and bowl appearances. They defeated Arkansas State in the New Orleans Bowl in 2005 and defeated Ohio in the GMAC Bowl in 2006.
A native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Tate served in the United States Army and was a member of the elite airborne unit stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Following his service, he played four years of college football, his last two at Southern Miss as a defensive lineman. He earned his bachelor’s degree in human performance from Southern Miss in 1997.
