Story bySep 1, 2011; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Kevin Claxton (9) during the game against the UNLV Rebels at Camp Randall Stadium. The Badgers defeated the Rebels 51-17. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY SportsAndy VillamarzoFri, January 30, 2026 at 5:50 PM UTC·3 min readThe Charlotte Fightin’ Tarpons (Fla.) have made history when it comes to their head coaching position for football on Friday. According to Wink News’ Zach Oliveri, Charlotte has named former Wisconsin linebacker and current Boyd Anderson head football coach Kevin Claxton as the school’s next lead man on the gridiron. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhat makes the hiring historic is Claxton, per Oliveri, becomes the first African-American football head coach in its 100-year history of the school. The Fightin’ Tarpons are coming off a 2025 high school football season where the team went 6-5 and fell in the opening round of the Class 5A playoffs to 2024 state semifinalist Manatee, 28-21. Charlotte parted ways with Cory Mentzer during the off-season as the Fightin’ Tarpons look to go in a new direction with the football program. Mentzer and Charlotte went 0-4 the last four seasons against the school’s rival, Port Charlotte Pirates, with the program’s time beating Port Charlotte in the area’s “Battle of the Peace River” rivalry back in 2021.