Jackson State University

Eric Gallon enters his second season after he returned to Jackson State last season (2024) as the running back coach after a brief stint with the Tigers in 2020, where he also coached running backs along with tight ends. 

Last season (2024, Gallon led an offensive attack led by SWAC Offensive Player of the Year Irv Mulligan, who recorded a 1,000-yard season. The Tigers finished the season 3,154 rushing yards where Gallon led nine different running backs with rushing yards. The Tigers finished finished the year ranked in several categories including red zone offense (second), fourth down conversion percentage (fourth), scoring offense (fifth), rushing offense (eighth), first downs offense (16th), total offense (34th), and third down conversion percentage (38th).

Prior to his return to JSU, the Lakeland, Florida, native served as tight ends coach for the North Carolina A&T Aggies during the 2023 season.  Before arriving at NCAT, Gallon coached at Robert Morris University, where he started as a tight ends coach. He was promoted to offensive coordinator for the Colonials’ 2022 season. Gallon spent time as the assistant head coach, running backs coach, and recruiting coordinator at Brevard College starting in 2017. Beginning in 2015, Gallon joined the Tennessee State staff (2015-16), serving as the program’s running backs coach. He was also the lead housing liaison between the university and the athletics department. Gallon also had the role of summer camp and clinic director, including the Little Tigers Youth Camp, a one-day showcase in Memphis and Nashville. Gallon’s running backs averaged 123.4 yards per game, totaling 1,860 rushing yards.

Gallon also served as the running backs coach at Youngstown State (2013-15). During his first season, Gallon coached Missouri Valley Football Conference newcomer and freshman of the year Martin Ruiz. He was also a Jerry Rice Award finalist after rushing for 1,094 yards and 15 touchdowns on 192 carries, including four 100-yard performances. Ruiz was one of only three players in NCAA Division I-FCS football to rush for more than 1,000 yards in 2013, joining Appalachian State’s Marcus Cox and A&T’s Tarik Cohen. In 2014, Ruiz rushed 1,325 yards and 10 touchdowns on 265 carries, earning second-team All-MVFC honors. Ruiz formed a lethal combination at Youngstown State with Jody Webb. In 2013, Webb averaged 7.2 yards per carry on 48 attempts. In addition, Adaris Bellamy had a game where he rushed for more than 200 yards. During Webb’s second season, he rushed for 715 yards and nine touchdowns on 103 carries. In 2014, YSU averaged 202.2 rushing yards per game, marking only the second time in program history a Penguins team averaged more than 200 yards per game. Gallon was also the team chaplain and headed mentoring activities for players with the local Big Brother Program.

Before coaching on the collegiate level, Gallon served as the head coach at George Jenkins High School in Lakeland, Fla. Gallon worked as the Eagles head coach in 2012 after spending the previous four seasons as the offensive coordinator on the staff.

Gallon played collegiately at Kansas State as a running back for head coach Bill Snyder (1989-92). A three-time letterwinner (1989, ‘91 and ‘92),Gallon served as the team captain in 1992. During his Wildcat career, he rushed for 1,960 yards on 447 carries, totaling 2,476 all-purpose yards. Five of his seven career 100-yard rushing games came during his junior season. Gallon had a brief NFL career with the New England Patriots. He then returned to his home state of Florida, where he spent time working with at-risk youths before coaching at the highschool level. He was the founder, President and CEO of Global Youth Services (2004-12), located in Tampa, Fla. Before starting his own company; Gallon spent 11 years with Correctional Services Corporation. After serving as a program and regional director, Gallon served as the vice president of operations in the juvenile division.

A graduate of Kathleen High School in Lakeland, where he starred as a basketball and football player, Gallon earned a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Kansas State in 1999.