University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Safeties
LaQuentin Black comes to UNI from Hutchinson Community College where he spent two seasons. Black was the defensive backs coach, co-Defensive Coordinator, and Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. In his time at Hutchinson CC, he helped lead the program to its fourth consecutive Jayhawk title and mentored five All-Conference defensive backs in the 2023 season, the nation's interception leader in 2023, and he coached five All-Conference and one All-American defensive back in 2022.
Before Hutchinson, Black coached at Division I Troy. At Troy, Black was a graduate assistant working with safeties and cornerbacks for the 2021 season. Troy’s pass defense was ranked in the Top 25 of the NCAA.
Black coached at Division II Central Methodist University from 2017 to 2020, serving as the defensive backs coach, Pass-Game Coordinator and was an Associate Head Coach. He inherited a pass defense that ranked 73rd in the nation and in one season saw that mark improve to 27th at 197 yards per game allowed. CMU improved to No. 2 in the nation in pass defense in 2020 at just 117 yards per game. Black coached five all-conference defensive backs at CMU. One of his players signed a free-agent contract with the New York Giants in 2020.
As a player, Black earned first-team all-conference honors at North Iowa Area Community College and helped the Trojans land a spot in the Graphic Edge Bowl. Black then transferred to Tulsa University and eventually to Missouri Valley College. At MVC, Black played in the NAIA national semifinals and was named a first-team All-American. Black also led the NAIA in kickoff returns in 2012 at 35.9 yards per return.
He graduated from Davis High School in 2007, earned an Associate of Arts degree from North Iowa Area in 2009 and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from Missouri Valley in 2014. Black then earned his master’s degree in Athletic Administration from Central Methodist University in 2018.
