Devin Figaro finished his third season as the Wide Receivers Coach at Lenoir-Rhyne in 2023 which was also his first as the Co-Special Teams Coordinator for LR.
In 2023, both the WR and Special Teams rooms had outstanding seasons. WR/KR DeAree Rogers was named an All-American return specialist as he broke Kyle Dugger's single-season record with three punt return touchdowns. Not to be outdone in the special team game, Rogers was LR's biggest threat in the air, leading the Bears with 53 catches for 690 yards. In total, three WR totaled over 660 yards under Figaro and all three had six or more touchdowns. Songa Yates tied a program record with three touchdowns in a game, the SAC Championship win over Tusculum. Deondre Lester moved to second in program history in career receptions with 164 and is one of just four WR in program history to top 2,000 career yards. Kelin Parsons also had a big 2023 despite missing much of the season with injury. In the final five games of the year, Parsons had at least five grabs in four contests.Â
Figaro had perhaps the most talented unit at Lenoir-Rhyne with his WR core in 2021 which was led by NFL draft pick Dareke Young. Young would be selected in the 7th Round by the Seattle Seahawks and tied a program record with 3 receiving touchdowns in a game against Mars Hill in 2021. On top of guiding a NFL draft pick, Figaro coached standout Deondre Lester to 56 grabs in a season, the most in the NCAA Era. Lester's 56 receptions were the most in a season since Terrence Steward hauled in 78 passes for LR in 1986 when the Bears were members of the NAIA. Lester also pulled in 14 grabs in a game against UVA Wise, the most in a game in the NCAA Era at LR. Kelin Parsons finished second on the team with 49 catches for 568 yards and four touchdowns and produced a career-best seven grabs for 109 yards in an NCAA Playoff game at Bowie State. Ryan Carter had 38 catches and 449 yards and was a threat in the return game as he earned a spot on the All-Conference team as a return specialist. Jordan Payne also hauled in three touchdown passes and 270 yards.Â
In his first year with the Bears, Figaro had instant success The WR play took a giant step forward under Figaro as Deondre Lester developed into one of the better young receivers in the league and Dareke Young continued to be a force. Young finished with 166 yards in the SAC Championship game, the 10th most in a single game in LR history. Lester led the team with 17 grabs and 272 yards in his four games and Ryan Carter also topped 200 yards. Young wide receivers Kelin Parsons, Hakeem Meggett and Jordan Payne all improved under Figaro’s watch.Â
In his one season at Valpo, Figaro helped numerous wide receivers make clear strides over the course of the season. He guided juniors Ollie Reese and Deuce Larose to 2019 All-PFL Honorable Mention status. Several Valpo wide receivers had career days on Nov. 9 vs. Morehead State as Larose made six catches for 112 yards, surpassing 100 yards for the first time in his career. Oscar Lopez hauled in nine grabs for 78 yards, both personal bests. Larose had Valpo’s highest single-game receiving total since Nov. 10, 2018, while Lopez was the first Valpo player with nine or more receptions in a game since Nov. 14, 2015. Larose (48.4, ninth) and Reese (45.4, 10th) both finished in the Top 10 in the PFL in receiving yards per game. Reese also finished sixth in all-purpose yards per game with 110.7.
Before making his way to Porter County in 2019, Figaro had been the wide receivers coach at Notre Dame College in Cleveland, Ohio since the spring of 2017.
Figaro coached two players to all-conference honors during his time at Notre Dame College. He previously served as a graduate assistant/assistant wide receivers coach at the University of San Diego and helped lead the Toreros to the first undefeated season in Pioneer Football League history. He was on staff as San Diego became the first non-scholarship FCS program to win an FCS playoff game in 2016.
Figaro played at Tulane University (2009-2011) and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (2011-2013). He was the captain of the wide receivers in 2013.
