Staff Directory
Antonio Clifton
- Title:
- Cornerbacks
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Antonio Clifton has established himself as a key member of the UT Martin football coaching staff, bringing a unique perspective to the Skyhawk program as both a former player and longtime assistant coach. Clifton enters his eighth season as a member of the coaching staff and serves as the program’s cornerbacks coach at UT Martin, his alma mater, in 2026.
Clifton joined the UT Martin coaching staff in 2019 as a defensive graduate assistant, beginning a coaching career at his alma mater that has included responsibilities on both sides of the football. From 2019 through 2021, he worked primarily with the rovers and special teams units before moving into a full-time assistant coaching role. He served as cornerbacks coach in 2022 and 2023, transitioned to running backs coach in 2024, and returned to the cornerbacks in 2025.
During his first season leading the cornerbacks in 2022, Clifton helped guide the Skyhawks to an Ohio Valley Conference championship while overseeing a defense that ranked among the nation's best in creating turnovers. UT Martin led the FCS in turnovers gained with 28 through the regular season and ranked among the national leaders in interceptions, defensive touchdowns, turnover margin and fumbles recovered. Cornerback Shaun Lewis earned first-team All-OVC honors following the season.
Clifton's secondary continued to play a prominent role during the Skyhawks' championship run in 2023. UT Martin captured its third consecutive conference championship while producing a pair of All-Big South-OVC honorees in the secondary, with Oshae Baker earning first-team recognition and JaMichael McGoy Jr. receiving second-team honors.
In 2024, Clifton moved to the offensive side of the football as running backs coach and helped oversee one of the most productive offensive seasons in program history. The Skyhawks established school records for total offense with 5,249 yards, first downs with 255 and rushing touchdowns with 28. UT Martin also led the Big South-OVC in scoring offense at 31.4 points per game and red-zone efficiency at 87.8 percent. Running back Patrick Smith earned first-team all-conference honors after rushing for 1,226 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Back on the defensive side of the ball in 2025, Clifton continued his mentorship of McGoy, the program's record-setting cornerback. McGoy cemented himself as statistically most disruptive defensive back in program history by setting program records in both passes defended (48) and pass breakups (42) for his career while earning three consecutive all-conference selections.
Before transitioning to an assistant role, he served as a defensive and special teams graduate assistant for three years from 2019-21 with the Skyhawks. In that role he worked primarily with the rovers and special teams units.
Clifton's coaching career is complemented by a strong playing background at UT Martin. He played 24 games for the Skyhawks from 2016-18, finishing his collegiate career with 37 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and four pass breakups. As a senior in 2018, he started six of 10 games at safety and recorded 34 tackles, including 19 solo stops, along with 1.5 tackles for loss, a quarterback hurry and three pass breakups.
Prior to arriving at UT Martin, Clifton spent two seasons at Itawamba Community College, where he developed into a productive defensive back and special teams contributor. He finished his junior college career with 95 tackles, three tackles for loss, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, an interception, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick. He earned MACJC Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording 14 tackles against Mississippi Gulf Coast.
A standout at Tupelo High School, Clifton helped the Golden Wave post a 13-2 record and advance to the Mississippi Class 6A state championship game. He later earned his bachelor's degree in health and human performance from UT Martin in 2019.
Clifton graduated from UT Martin in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in health and human performance. He is married to the former Gabbi Campbell and the couple reside in Martin.
Clifton joined the UT Martin coaching staff in 2019 as a defensive graduate assistant, beginning a coaching career at his alma mater that has included responsibilities on both sides of the football. From 2019 through 2021, he worked primarily with the rovers and special teams units before moving into a full-time assistant coaching role. He served as cornerbacks coach in 2022 and 2023, transitioned to running backs coach in 2024, and returned to the cornerbacks in 2025.
During his first season leading the cornerbacks in 2022, Clifton helped guide the Skyhawks to an Ohio Valley Conference championship while overseeing a defense that ranked among the nation's best in creating turnovers. UT Martin led the FCS in turnovers gained with 28 through the regular season and ranked among the national leaders in interceptions, defensive touchdowns, turnover margin and fumbles recovered. Cornerback Shaun Lewis earned first-team All-OVC honors following the season.
Clifton's secondary continued to play a prominent role during the Skyhawks' championship run in 2023. UT Martin captured its third consecutive conference championship while producing a pair of All-Big South-OVC honorees in the secondary, with Oshae Baker earning first-team recognition and JaMichael McGoy Jr. receiving second-team honors.
In 2024, Clifton moved to the offensive side of the football as running backs coach and helped oversee one of the most productive offensive seasons in program history. The Skyhawks established school records for total offense with 5,249 yards, first downs with 255 and rushing touchdowns with 28. UT Martin also led the Big South-OVC in scoring offense at 31.4 points per game and red-zone efficiency at 87.8 percent. Running back Patrick Smith earned first-team all-conference honors after rushing for 1,226 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Back on the defensive side of the ball in 2025, Clifton continued his mentorship of McGoy, the program's record-setting cornerback. McGoy cemented himself as statistically most disruptive defensive back in program history by setting program records in both passes defended (48) and pass breakups (42) for his career while earning three consecutive all-conference selections.
Before transitioning to an assistant role, he served as a defensive and special teams graduate assistant for three years from 2019-21 with the Skyhawks. In that role he worked primarily with the rovers and special teams units.
Clifton's coaching career is complemented by a strong playing background at UT Martin. He played 24 games for the Skyhawks from 2016-18, finishing his collegiate career with 37 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and four pass breakups. As a senior in 2018, he started six of 10 games at safety and recorded 34 tackles, including 19 solo stops, along with 1.5 tackles for loss, a quarterback hurry and three pass breakups.
Prior to arriving at UT Martin, Clifton spent two seasons at Itawamba Community College, where he developed into a productive defensive back and special teams contributor. He finished his junior college career with 95 tackles, three tackles for loss, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, an interception, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick. He earned MACJC Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording 14 tackles against Mississippi Gulf Coast.
A standout at Tupelo High School, Clifton helped the Golden Wave post a 13-2 record and advance to the Mississippi Class 6A state championship game. He later earned his bachelor's degree in health and human performance from UT Martin in 2019.
Clifton graduated from UT Martin in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in health and human performance. He is married to the former Gabbi Campbell and the couple reside in Martin.
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