Eastern Michigan Athletics
Antreal Allen Named EMU Football Assistant Coach
2/25/2026 3:00:00 PM | Football
Allen will serve as Eastern’s cornerbacks coach
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Antreal Allen, an assistant with the University of West Georgia in 2025, has been named an assistant football coach at Eastern Michigan University, Head Coach Chris Creighton announced today, Feb. 25. Allen arrives in Ypsilanti with eight years of collegiate coaching experience and a strong track record of developing secondaries that limit explosive plays and force turnovers.
"We are very excited about coach Antreal Allen joining our staff as our cornerbacks coach," said Creighton. "He fits our staff because he makes players better on and off the field, and he cares about the guys he is coaching. Spring practice is right around the corner, and we cannot wait to get started."
"I am extremely excited and blessed to have the opportunity to continue to do what I love to do," Allen added. "God is so good, and I'm thankful to be a part of a staff with great people!"
He most recently served as the cornerbacks coach at the University of West Georgia during the 2025 season, where he helped guide one of the most productive defenses in the country. Allen coached Jalen Burton to All-United Athletic Conference honors, the first time a cornerback has collected all-league honors in the program's Division I history.
West Georgia, amid its transition to NCAA Division I and ineligible for official statistical rankings, posted numbers that would have ranked among the nation's best. The Wolves allowed only 332.2 total yards per game, a figure that would have placed them 21st nationally. They surrendered 21.2 points per contest, a mark tied for 21st in the NCAA. Opponents averaged only 209.3 passing yards per game, and the defense recorded 10 interceptions over the course of the season.
Before his time at West Georgia, Allen spent three seasons from 2022-24 at his alma mater, Georgia State University. Working first with the safeties and then with the cornerbacks, he contributed to a defensive unit that allowed just 239.9 passing yards per game across that three-year span while collecting 33 interceptions. In 2022, Georgia State forced 25 turnovers, which ranked 11th in the nation. That total included 13 interceptions. In his final season coaching the cornerbacks in Atlanta, the Panthers limited opponents to 203.3 passing yards per game. During his full-time tenure, three of his defensive backs earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors.
Allen began his coaching career at Georgia State in 2018 as a defensive quality control assistant. He was promoted to graduate assistant prior to the 2019 season, gaining experience in game planning, film breakdown, and on-field instruction. He earned his first full-time position in 2020 at Shorter University, where he coached the defensive backs and special teams units. During the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, Shorter allowed only 190.8 passing yards per game. In 2021, the Hawks fielded one of the top punt return defense units in the Gulf South Conference at the NCAA Division II level.
A native of Auburn, Ala., Allen was a four-year letterwinner at Georgia State from 2014-17. He appeared in 40 career games and became a full-time starter as a senior. Allen played two seasons at cornerback before moving to safety for his final two years. He totaled 75 tackles, three interceptions, and three pass breakups during his collegiate career. He was part of Georgia State's first bowl appearance at the 2015 Cure Bowl and helped the Panthers secure their first bowl victory in 2017 with a 27- 17 win over Western Kentucky in the Cure Bowl.
Allen earned his bachelor's degree in computer information systems from Georgia State in 2018. 247Sports.com named him to their annual "30 Under 30" listing in 2024 and recognized his "rapid ascent in the world of college football, while also underscoring his significant impact on the game at just 30 years old."
"We are very excited about coach Antreal Allen joining our staff as our cornerbacks coach," said Creighton. "He fits our staff because he makes players better on and off the field, and he cares about the guys he is coaching. Spring practice is right around the corner, and we cannot wait to get started."
"I am extremely excited and blessed to have the opportunity to continue to do what I love to do," Allen added. "God is so good, and I'm thankful to be a part of a staff with great people!"
He most recently served as the cornerbacks coach at the University of West Georgia during the 2025 season, where he helped guide one of the most productive defenses in the country. Allen coached Jalen Burton to All-United Athletic Conference honors, the first time a cornerback has collected all-league honors in the program's Division I history.
West Georgia, amid its transition to NCAA Division I and ineligible for official statistical rankings, posted numbers that would have ranked among the nation's best. The Wolves allowed only 332.2 total yards per game, a figure that would have placed them 21st nationally. They surrendered 21.2 points per contest, a mark tied for 21st in the NCAA. Opponents averaged only 209.3 passing yards per game, and the defense recorded 10 interceptions over the course of the season.
Before his time at West Georgia, Allen spent three seasons from 2022-24 at his alma mater, Georgia State University. Working first with the safeties and then with the cornerbacks, he contributed to a defensive unit that allowed just 239.9 passing yards per game across that three-year span while collecting 33 interceptions. In 2022, Georgia State forced 25 turnovers, which ranked 11th in the nation. That total included 13 interceptions. In his final season coaching the cornerbacks in Atlanta, the Panthers limited opponents to 203.3 passing yards per game. During his full-time tenure, three of his defensive backs earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors.
Allen began his coaching career at Georgia State in 2018 as a defensive quality control assistant. He was promoted to graduate assistant prior to the 2019 season, gaining experience in game planning, film breakdown, and on-field instruction. He earned his first full-time position in 2020 at Shorter University, where he coached the defensive backs and special teams units. During the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, Shorter allowed only 190.8 passing yards per game. In 2021, the Hawks fielded one of the top punt return defense units in the Gulf South Conference at the NCAA Division II level.
A native of Auburn, Ala., Allen was a four-year letterwinner at Georgia State from 2014-17. He appeared in 40 career games and became a full-time starter as a senior. Allen played two seasons at cornerback before moving to safety for his final two years. He totaled 75 tackles, three interceptions, and three pass breakups during his collegiate career. He was part of Georgia State's first bowl appearance at the 2015 Cure Bowl and helped the Panthers secure their first bowl victory in 2017 with a 27- 17 win over Western Kentucky in the Cure Bowl.
Allen earned his bachelor's degree in computer information systems from Georgia State in 2018. 247Sports.com named him to their annual "30 Under 30" listing in 2024 and recognized his "rapid ascent in the world of college football, while also underscoring his significant impact on the game at just 30 years old."
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