Kevin Downing came to Elon for the 2010 season after spending five years as a member of the staff at Winston-Salem State University.
In his first year with the Phoenix, Downing worked as a defensive assistant, but moved over to the offensive side of the ball to mentor Elon’s wide receivers in 2011.
As Elon’s wide receivers coach, Downing helped guide one of the top FCS talents in Aaron Mellette. In 2011, Mellette set a new Elon and Southern Conference record with 1,639 receiving yards. As a junior, Mellette led all of FCS in both receptions per game (10.27) and receiving yards per game (149.00) on his way to finishing fifth in the voting for the Walter Payton Award and being named to seven All-America squads. Phoenix receivers accounted for an average of 281.45 yards per game in 2011.
Last season, Downing helped Mellette to again lead the SoCon in receiving as the senior caught 97 passes for 1,398 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was named to numerous All-America squads and placed eighth in the voting for the Walter Payton Award. Mellette became Elon’s first representative in the prestigious Senior Bowl and was a seventh-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in April’s NFL Draft.
An Edenton, N.C. native, Downing worked with the Rams’ defensive backs and safeties before switching sides of the ball to become the wide receivers coach for his final three years.
In 2009, Winston-Salem State’s receiving corps was led by Omar Kizzie who caught 28 balls for 298 yards and three scores.
Downing is a 2004 graduate of North Carolina Central University where he played two seasons before his career was cut short due to multiple knee surgeries. During the 2001 season, Downing played a key role for the Eagles’ defense which finished the season as the top-rated unit in the country at the NCAA Division II level.
Downing earned his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education in 2004.
Downing is married to the former Nia N. Patterson and the couple has one son - Kevin Jr. They reside in Greensboro.
