The Official Site of the Ferrum College Panthers

Santiago joined the Ferrum football coaching staff in March 2022 as an assistant coach.

In Ferrum’s first inaugural Division II season, Santiago led the Wide Receiver group to 2 school records and a Conference Carolinas Record. True Freshman Omarza Gray earned 2025 Conference Carolinas Freshman Offensive Player of the Year & 2nd Team- All Conference WR. Gray's 203 receiving yards is a new Ferrum record, eclipsing the previous record of 198, set by Darryl Hammond in 1995 against Guilford College. His 203 receiving yards is also a new Conference Carolinas single game record. Gray finished with 44 receptions, 767 yards, and 6 Touchdowns; earning player of the week 3 times. He also had 24 kickoff returns for 528 yards; Gray's all-purpose yardage totaled 1,325 yards for the 2025 season, averaging 120.5 yards per game.

Santiago also developed Elizabeth City transfer Tyrik Bryant, who had no prior game experience, to 2nd Team All-Conference; posting 48 receptions, 462 yards, and 5 Touchdowns. He set a new school record for single game touchdown receptions with three on November 8th at Chowan University.

He came to Ferrum from Averett University, where he served as an assistant football coach three seasons. Santiago worked with the Cougar wide receivers, running backs and defensive backs. In the 2021 season, Santiago's position group made history by setting school records in catches, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Three wide receivers earned All-Conference honors in the USA South Athletic Conference, and one player signed a professional contract with the Quad City Steam Wheelers.

A 2019 graduate of Emory & Henry College, Santiago earned his Bachelor's degree in Health & Human Performance with a minor in Coaching. He was a three-time All-Conference selection at wide receiver, as well as a three-time Academic All-Conference honoree. Santiago was also an NFF Hampshire Honor Society member in 2019. He went on to earn his Master's degree in Business Administration from Averett in 2021. Santiago is originally from Newport News, Virginia.