Robert Morris Football Defensive Line Coach Steps Away From Coaching

Robert Morris head coach Bernard Clark Jr. had to overhaul his coaching staff this offseason after many of his assistants and coordinators were poached by bigger programs after the Colonials’ successful 2024 season.

One of his hires was Derrick Nsubuga, also known as Coach Zoo, as the team’s defensive line coach. Nsubuga spent the last two seasons at Utah State as a defensive graduate assistant before he accepted the job at Robert Morris.

Through the first few months of Coach Zoo being on campus, it appeared that Clark struck gold as Nsubuga spearheaded the recruitment process for multiple high-caliber defensive recruits including the Colonials’ first Class of 2026 commit, OLB Russell Holmes Jr.

Unfortunately for Clark and the Colonials’ football program, Coach Zoo stepped away from the football program on Monday and plans to pursue ministry full time at Robert Morris.

It is with a heavy heart, but full conviction, that I have decided to step away from coaching football, to pursue full time ministry. I will be working to launch fellowship of Christian athletes on campus at Robert Morris university!
LETS GO BOBBY MO!!!

— Derrick nsubuga (@coach_zoo_1) July 28, 2025

While Nsubuga is putting his coaching career on pause at the moment, he is not leaving his players in the dust as he will be launching a fellowship for Christian athletes at Robert Morris.

Additionally, Nsubuga announced that he plans on returning to coaching at some point in the near future but as of right now, there is no timeline on his return.

Lord willing, I’ll be back in coaching one day!

This isn’t goodbye…it’s see you later

Dream so big…the odds don’t matter pic.twitter.com/C9BFEFHOlx

— Derrick nsubuga (@coach_zoo_1) July 29, 2025

The loss of Nsubuga not only affects the Colonials’ recruiting efforts, as he emerged as one of the fastest-rising recruiting in FCS football since he was hired back in March, but it also puts a hole in the staff as he was listed as the only defensive line coach in the program.

Regardless, with the news of Nsubuga’s departure from the program coming in late July, Clark and the rest of the staff must stay focused on the task ahead as the Colonials kick off their season in Morgantown in just over a month.