Education
Fears attended John Yeates High School in Suffolk, Virginia, and was a letterman in football. In football, he was twice named the school"s "Outstanding Player of the Year", and as a senior, was also an All-State selection. He attended The College of William & Mary, where he played football as a running back from 1973 to 1975.
Fears began his coaching career in 1976 with his alma mater, William & Mary as a graduate assistant and in 1977-1978 was the team"s Receivers coach.
In 1979 he served as the team"s quarterbacks coach before moving to Syracuse University in 1980 as the wide receivers coach.