Mott Gaymon heads into his seventh season as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Wheeling University in 2025. He has led the Cardinal's defense since joining the program and also serves as the Defensive Coordinator for the Wheeling Miners of the National Arena League (NAL). Gaymon was inducted as a member of the Class of 2023 West Virginia Wesleyan Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 2002 Bobcats Football team.
In 2024, the Cardinals were able to hold opponents under 30 points per game for the second season in a row. They allowed just over 28 PPG during the season and held opponents to 30 points or less in six of the team's 11 games during the season. Under Gaymon's watch, the defensive unit had two All-MEC honorees, with both earning First Team All-Conference honors. He helped coach middle linebacker Jack Parry to the single-season tackles record, finishing with 91.0, as well as the MEC lead in that category. The other First Team honoree was defensive back Justin McIlwain who was the Cardinal's leader in pass breakups a season ago.
The Cardinal's defense allowed 26.00 points per game under Gaymon's watch in 2023, while totaling 63.0 sacks and 14 interceptions during the season. Their top performance of the season came on Homecoming weekend when they held West Virginia Wesleyan to just three points in a 58-3 victory over the Bobcats. Under Gaymon's watch, the program saw their first All-Region and All-American honoree as Aaron Davis led all of NCAA DII in pass breakups (25). The defense also produced three All-MEC honorees, with Caleb Grant leading the way with a Second Team All-MEC honor.
Gaymon's 2022 defense continued their success from the 2021 season, holding opponents to 25.36 points per game while setting the new team record with 15 interceptions during the season. The Cardinals picked up their second shutout in program history on October 1st when they beat West Virginia Wesleyan 37-0, and they held opponents to under 25 points in six of their 11 games. Gaymon coached four of the team's nine All-MEC honorees, including First Team All-MEC linebacker Jason Simon.
In 2021, Gaymon piloted a Wheeling University Defense that had it's best season in program history, allowing a record low 21.7 points per game. He called the plays for the program's first shutout victory and coached the fourth highest scoring defense in the MEC. In total, four Wheeling defensive starters earned All-MEC honors with Richard White III and Josiah Wright taking home All-MEC First and Second team honors respectively, while Brandon Munoz and Jason Simon each took home All-MEC Honorable Mention honors.
During the 2020 COVID shortened season, Gaymon's unit allowed 26.75 points per game during the season, as Wheeling finished 2-2 overall. They were a ball hungry defense, forcing 11 turnovers during the season, including nine interceptions. They had eight defensive players earn All-MEC Honors, including Dalton Hoover and Rich White III earning All-MEC First Team Honors.
Gaymon's unit finished the 2019 season strong, yielding just 22.5 points per game over the final three weeks of the season. The defense forced six turnovers and a season-low in total offense to help propel the Cardinals to its first-win in program history at Concord in the final game of the season.
A pair of defenders were named All-MEC at the conclusion of the program's first varsity season, with linebacker James Reese III and defensive end Brandon Munoz each garnering honorable mention honors.
Gaymon joined the Cardinals after a one-year stint as the defensive back coach and recruiting coordinator at NCAA Division II Lake Erie College in 2017.
Prior to Lake Erie, he spent two years at NAIA Lindsey Wilson in Columbia, Kentucky as an assistant coach in charge of cornerbacks. Gaymon helped lead the Blue Raiders to a 8-3 record and a second-straight appearance in the NAIA Football Championship Series. The Blue Raiders started the season 6-0 and achieved the program's first-ever No. 1 national ranking. Gaymon saw two of his student-athletes at the defensive back position earn Mid-South All-Conference honors in 2015, including first-team selection Tony Brackins.
Prior to joining Lindsey Wilson, Gaymon served as the head coach, defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator for the Wroclaw Panthers of Poland where he helped lead the team to the national championship game, leading the league in points allowed and total defense.
Gaymon has also spent time coaching with Mansfield (Pa.) University, the Wroclaw Giants of Poland and the Caimans Le Mans football teams. He also served as the defensive coordinator for the D3 Senior Classic and Euro-American Challenge in 2013.
Gaymon played football for four seasons at MEC-rival West Virginia Wesleyan, where he served as captain during his senior campaign. He earned All-WVIAC honors in 2006 and was the recipient of the Earle “Greasy” Neale Award at WVWC as the most inspirational player.
Following graduation, he played for the Baltimore Mariners of the American Indoor Football Association in 2008.
Gaymon is a 2007 graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College, where he received his bachelor of science in business management.
Gaymon and his wife Jennifer have one child Mott V (6).
