As a Recruiting Specialist, Donovan Tate offers 11 total years in the coaching profession, with experience in the collegiate ranks as well as an accomplished educator to his current role in the Department of Football Recruiting at Louisiana State University.
Tate has served numerous student-athletes and families during multiple stays in different states. Tate held the title as Running Back Coach at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia. Tate also spent time as an Assistant Football Coach and Head Women’s Track & Field Coach in Fort Worth, TX at Class 6A Chisholm Trail High School. Prior to, Tate joined the Brusly High School staff as a Dean of Students in Alternative Placement for West Baton Rouge Schools, Asst. Offensive Coordinator, and Men’s and Women’s Track & Field Assistant.
Tate spent his 7th season in Hattiesburg, 8th overall as the Offensive Coordinator for the Fighting Tigers, in 2019. Tate assisted the Tigers at the Wide Receivers and Return Specialist position. The Tigers encountered an up and down season following the return of only 1 starter on offense from an undefeated season. However, the Tigers would find their stride scoring over 40 points in the last four games, missing the playoffs in a 50-48 loss in the closing game of the season. Tate was selected as the Offensive Coordinator of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Bernard Blackwell North vs. South All-Star Classic in Gulfport, MS.
Tate spent the 2017 season as the Wide Receivers coach for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston, MS. Following the conclusion of the 2017 MACJC regular season play, Tate returned to Hattiesburg to reclaim his post as an Asst. Coordinator and Wide Receiver coach at HHS. The 2017 and 2018 Hattiesburg HS Offense featured a magnitude of developed talent that included Ole Miss signee, current Jacksonville Jaguar, and 5A Mr. Football Recipient Jarod “Snoop” Conner and 1,200 yard All-State WR Darius Ruffin, along with an amazing supporting class. The 2017 Tigers would garnish a 14-1 overall record, Region 3-5A District Championship, and a State Championship appearance versus eventual 5A Champion, West Point HS. The 2018 Tigers completed a back-to-back undefeated season, Region 3-5A Championship and overall record of 13-1. The Tigers’ only blemish would come at the hands of 5A Runner-Up, West Jones High School. Tate concluded the 2018 season by presenting the “Quick 6” offense as a guest speaker in the annual Nike Coach-of-the-Year series nationwide.
Prior to his stint at MGCCC, Tate spent four seasons at Hattiesburg High School as the Wide Receivers coach and Asst. Off Coordinator to head coach Tony Vance, and in his first season as Offensive Coordinator for the Tigers in 2017. The Quick6 Offense assisted the Tigers in the development of several student-athletes that played a pivotal role in the Tigers’ success. MHSAA 1st Team All-State QB Julian Conner, Mississippi Class of 2018’s number one RB, Fabian Franklin (4-star rating Rivals, 247 Sports), MHSAA 2nd Team All-State WR and 4-Star ATH (Rivals and 247 Sports) DeAndre Humbles, and more notably, 2016-2017 MHSAA 5A Mr. Football WR Jordan Murphy combined to create a list of dynamic offensive standouts that were featured in the Tigers’ offense.
The 2016 Hattiesburg HS (10-4) Offense set the, then, Mississippi state record for Points Per Game (46.7), averaging 266.7 Rec YPG (3,714 total passing yards, 43 total TDs, 8 INT), 218 Rush YPG (3,040 total rushing yards, 46 total rushing TDs), 89 total touchdowns. Murphy’s 2016 – 2017 campaign included 78 catches, 1,695 yards, 21 Rec TDs (22 total). As a dominant force in the state of MS at his position, Murphy garnered multiple accolades with his jaw-dropping statistics including MHSAA 5A Mr. Football Award, MHSAA 5A Player of the Year Award, MHSAA Region 4-5A Player of the Year Award, 1st Team MHSAA 5A All-State Selection, All-Pine Belt Area Selection, MS-AL All-Star Game Participant, and Rivals & 247 Sports 4-Star rating and University of Tennessee Volunteers signee.
Tate’s coaching career began in 2012 at East Central Community College (MS) as the Wide Receivers Coach. There he assisted Ricky Hunt and Brock Hall to MACJC Honors.
As a polished educator, Tate has taught at each level of Pre-K through High School Education. In his initial year as an educator at NR Burger Middle School in Hattiesburg, MS, Tate was recognized as New Teacher of the Year. During his time at Woodley Elementary, Tate assisted the elementary school with acquiring educational grants from Healthy Partnership MS, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, and Mississippi Power, to name a few. Tate was presented the Education Enrichment Award presented by the Iota Theta Sigma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in 2016.
A 2007 graduate of Hattiesburg High School, Tate was a standout wide receiver on the 2007 and 2008 East Central Community College Warrior squads and earned honorable mention MACJC All-State honors for the 2007 campaign. While at East Central, Tate was a Dean’s List Scholar, Academic-All NJCAA Recipient, and member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He was also selected for Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges. He received an Associate’s Degree in December 2008. Tate continued his football career at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La., and received All-Conference Academic honors in 2009, 2010 and 2011. He received a bachelor’s degree in General Studies with a Minor in Family and Consumer Sciences in December of 2010. During his final athletic season, Tate began the Master's of Educational Leadership with an Emphasis in Higher Education Administration at Nicholls State, completing it in 2013.
Donovan was raised in the “Goula'' a historic eastside Hattiesburg, MS community. He is the son of the late Tremaine Tate and current Tarleton State University Defensive Line Coach, Frederick Tate, both Hattiesburg, MS natives.