Alton "Al" Lavan is in his seventh season as head coach of the Hornets. Since coming to Delaware State in 2004, he has spearheaded a resurgence in the program, highlighted the team's first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship in the 16 years and the school's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2007.

In six seasons at DSU, Lavan has posted an overall record of 38-28 (.576), including a 32-15 mark in MEAC contests (.681). In the three years prior to his arrival, the Hornets were 10-24 overall and 6-17 in the league. Delaware State had just one winning season in the eight years before Lavan took the job. He ranks third on the list for most coaching victories at DSU (38).

Lavan has a 40-29 career record as a head coach, including a 2-1 mark during an interim stint at Eastern Michigan in 2003.

In 2007, Lavan led the Hornets to a school-record 10 wins, their first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship since 1991 and first ever appearance in the NCAA playoffs.  In addition, the 2007 Hornets were ranked as high as No. 10 in the weekly SportsNetwork Football Championship Subdivision poll and were No. 15 in the final poll. That season, the Hornets became the second team in the history of the MEAC to post an 8-0 record in league play (10-1 overall regular season).

Delaware State was recognized as the 2007 American Sports Wire Division I Black College National Champions and No. 2 in the final Sheridan Broadcast Network poll of Historically Black College & University teams.

Lavan was honored as the 2007 Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C., MEAC Coach-of-the-Year and Football Championship Subdivision Region II Coach-of-the-Year. He was second in the voting for the 2007 Eddie Robinson Award, recognizing the top Football Championship Subdivision coach, and was awarded the 2008 Making A Difference Award by the DSU Alumni Association. 

The Fort Pierce, Fla., native was also selected as head coach for the 2008 American Heritage Bowl/Navy-Marine Corps All-Star Classic in San Clemente, Calif. He guided the Northeast All-Stars to a 24-7 victory in the contest.

In 2006, the Hornets were 8-3 overall and 6-2 in the MEAC. It marked the first time that DSU posted back-to-back winning seasons since 1994-95, while the eight wins were the most by the team since 1991. Delaware State also appeared in the SportsNetwork Division I-AA Top 25 poll for the first time since 1992, coming in at No. 23 in week ten. 

Lavan's 2005 squad posted the Hornets' first winning season since 2000. The team was 7-4 overall, and third in the MEAC with a 6-2 record. Delaware State was picked to finish sixth in the 2005 pre-season MEAC poll.  The 2005 season also marked the first time since 1985 that the Hornets posted an undefeated record at home (5-0).

During his first season at Delaware State in 2004, Lavan led the Hornets to a 4-7 overall record and a 4-3 mark in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), DSU's first winning record in conference play since 2000. 

The year before Lavan's arrival, the Hornets lost their first nine games en route to a 1-10 overall record.

The highlight of the 2004 season was Lavan's first DSU victory, a 28-23 upset of eventual MEAC champ Hampton, the Pirates' only loss in a 10-1 regular season.

More than the on-field improvement, Lavan has brought a change of attitude to the program.

In addition to establishing the first comprehensive strength and conditioning program in team history, he spearheaded changes in the team's academic, recruiting, practice and discipline policies. The team is also benefiting from new audio/visual and computer equipment, thanks to a generous donation from prominent alumni spurred by Lavan's outreach efforts to university supporters.

Lavan has also demonstrated concern for his players by initiating a program to bring local and nationally recognized speakers before the team to share their stories. Among the prominent individuals offering words of wisdom are former Hornet offensive lineman Matthew Horace, currently an agent with the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Joe Purzycki, former DSU head football coach and current bank executive; former pro quarterback and current NFL executive James Harris; and former Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker. Lavan's staff includes a tutor/academic advisor and "character coach."   

The team's commitment to public service is also a Lavan priority. The Hornets have hosted holiday parties for area foster children, participated in reading programs at local schools, and provided mentoring services.

Lavan has also gained popularity around campus by "encouraging" his players to support  other DSU sports teams. It is not uncommon to see Lavan and his troops cheering on the Hornets' volleyball, softball or basketball teams during home games.

All of the above has made Lavan a popular guest on the banquet and speaking circuit during his short time in Delaware. 

Lavan brought more than 30 years of professional and collegiate coaching experience to Delaware State.

Prior to accepting the Delaware State position, Lavan served for two seasons as an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan University. He was promoted to assistant head coach for the 2003 football season, and upon the late-season firing of then-head coach Jeff Woodruff, Lavan was named interim head coach. After he took over the 1-8 team, Eastern Michigan won two of its final three games.

In more than 18 years as a NFL assistant, Lavan's resume' includes stints with the Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, and the Kansas City Chiefs.

He was a member of George Seifert's 1990 Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers' coaching staff. That team included former Delaware State University standout John Taylor, who caught a touchdown pass in the 49ers' 55-10 win over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV.

In Dallas, Lavan worked under Hall of Fame head coach Tom Landry. He helped Cowboy running backs Tony Dorsett and Herschel Walker combine for six 1000-yard seasons. 

He helped lead Dallas to division titles in 1981 and '85, and wild card playoff berths in 1980 and '83.

Lavan has also served as position coach for NFL all stars Roger Craig, Priest Holmes, Tom Rathman, Ernest Byner, Robert Newhouse and Bam Morris.

Lavan's collegiate coaching tenure includes stops at Colorado State, Louisville, Iowa State, Georgia Tech, Stanford, and Washington.

He helped guide Georgia Tech to the 1978 Peach Bowl, and Washington to the 1993 Rose Bowl and 1995 Sun Bowl.

While under Lavan at Washington, Napolean Kaufman rushed for a then-school record 1,390 yards in 1994 and had 1,851 all-purpose yards in 1993. He played seven NFL seasons before retiring in 2001. 

After a standout career at Colorado State University, Lavan was selected as a defensive back by the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles in the eighth round of the 1968 draft. He also played two seasons for the Atlanta Falcons before his professional career was cut short by a neck injury.

Lavan earned a bachelor's degree from Colorado State in 1968.

He is a member of the American Football Coaches Association and the Black Coaches Association.

Al and wife Bess are the parents of three children, Travis, Doug and Maeleeke.