ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Griffon Football head coach Tyler Fenwick has announced the addition of three new assistants to his coaching staff.
Maleik Gatewood, along with former Griffon players Elijah Larson and Antonio Taylor, join the fold in 2026. Gatewood and Taylor will coach defensive backs, while Larson will coach linebackers.
"It's always good for the program when you can hire a couple of alums who played in the program who understand the standards and expectations," Fenwick said. "Both Eli and Antonio are good, young coaches who will have a bright future in the profession. Maliek also brings some really strong experience at different levels of football from the NFL, SEC, DIII, JUCO and the MIAA, which put him on the map in our hiring process."
Gatewood brings seven years of coaching experience, most recently coaching safeties at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin this past season. Prior to MSSU, Gatewood was defensive coordinator at NJCAA Division I Andrew College in Georgia, helping that program to a 5-2 record in its inaugural season in 2024.
Gatewood spent 2023 as the DBs coach at NCAA Division III Amherst College in Massachusetts. His defensive backfield ranked first in the conference with 201 interception return yards.
Gatewood also spent a year and a half as a defensive assistant and strength and conditioning intern for the New York Giants from September 2020 - March 2022. Prior to that, Gatewood was a graduate assistant, coaching defensive backs at the University of Tennessee from March 2019 - August 2020.
Taylor and Larson join the MoWest coaching staff after wrapping up their playing careers with the Griffons in 2024. Larson has been on staff at MWSU as an assistant strength and conditioning coach since July 2025. He's also coached linebackers at Central High School in St. Joseph since 2025.
Larson played in 21 games over a four-year playing career with MoWest, logging 18 total tackles and three passes defended, while also contributing regularly on special teams.
Taylor, who got his MBA at MoWest in 2025, started his playing career at Division I Southeast Missouri State, playing for the Redhawks in Cape Girardeau from 2021-2023, logging 17 total tackles, four passes defended and two interceptions in that time, winning an Ohio Valley Conference title in 2022.
At MoWest, Taylor played every game in 2024, compiling 45 tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Taylor continued his football career in St. Joseph, playing in 2025 for the St. Joseph Goats of the Arena Football League.
