ORANGEBURG, SC--During Bulldog Spring Football we had a chance to sit down with Offensive Line coach Na' Shan Goddard. Goddard is entering his seventh (7^th) season as a member of the Bulldog coaching staff as Offensive Line Coach and NFL Pro-Liaison. He is in his first season under the direction of head coach Chennis Berry. Goddard was a part of two (2) Mid-Eastern Athletic (MEAC) titles and a 2021 Cricket Wireless Celebration Bowl Championship where the Bulldogs were crowned HBCU National Champion under recently retired Bulldog head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough. In 2023 the offensive line was ranked fifth (5^th) in FCS National rankings in rushing average with 220 yards per game, and over 2600 rushing yards for the season. Prior to joining the Bulldogs, Goddard was with Newberry College for two seasons, and as a player, he excelled at South Carolina under head coaches Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier from 2001-05, earning SEC All-Freshman and Freshman All-America honors in 2002. He was also named preseason All-SEC in 2005. He played center, guard, and tackle during his years with the Gamecocks. When his collegiate career ended, Goddard signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Giant and then had a brief stint with the New York Jets before being traded back to the Giants. He later played with Seattle and closed out his NFL career with the New Orleans Saints. He earned Super Bowl rings with the Giants in 2008 and the Saints in 2010. To see Goddard's complete bio, visit www.scsuathletics.com
 
Q: What made you decide to coach for South Carolina State?
A: It was an amazing opportunity to coach D1 football at a historic HBCU!

Q: What would you say was one of the biggest challenges transitioning from a player to a coach?
A: The biggest challenge was being more detailed in every phase of the game!

Q: What would you tell your younger self as a player that you would as a coach?
A: I would tell my younger self that details MATTER!!

Q. What was the best advice given to you as a coach?
A: The best advice given to me was "Coach them hard but love them harder!"   And "Never give a player a task that he physically cannot do!"

Q. What is the biggest challenge you face today as a coach?
A: Biggest challenge today is recruiting the guys currently on our team to stay, with the emergence of NCAA portal and NIL.

Q: What is a misconception about coaches' society always claim?
A: Biggest misconception is that everyone makes a lot of money! Lol! 

Q: When I am not coaching, I am doing? 
A: I am spending time with my two young boys NaSean and Naiden. We typically grab some wings, go to Pelicans for snowballs, and watch a movie.

Q: If I wasn't coaching football, I would coach what sport?  
A: I would coach men's or women's basketball!

Q: A hidden talent I have no one knows about is?
A: I can talk like Donald Duck and laugh like Disney character Goofy!

Q: The person I admire the most in life?
A: I admire single parents! I could NOT raise my 2 children by myself! 

Q: My favorite quote in life? 
A: "Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to deliver uncommon results!"  Vince Lombardi 
 
Q: If I can spend time with one person dead or alive if would be?
A: I would want to spend time with My grandfather Moses Copprue eating breakfast at his camper in Indiana.

Hot Seat

• Favorite Food: Supreme Pizza
• Favorite Cereal or Snack: Cinnamon Toast Crunch & PB&J
• Favorite Song and Artist: Notorious Thugs - Bone Thugs N Harmony and B.I.G.
• Favorite Hobby: Traveling to Mom & Pop restaurants around the world.
• Favorite Sport besides basketball: Boxing
• Something About Myself No One Else Knows: ALL of my brothers and their children names start with "Na"
• One word that describes yourself: Charismatic!

 
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