The HBCU Head Football Coaches Help Wanted Ads

WASHINGTON, D.C.  -- If you thought the excitement was over for 2013 HBCU football season, guess again.  This is usually the time of the year that university administrators make their moves to improve their "cash cow" football programs at the FCS and Division II levels.

But this season is very unusual with some big names in the profession being bounced out the door.  We thought the Doug Williams (Grambling) situation was a head twister; but perennial winner  -- Rick Comegy being kicked off the Jackson State campus is beyond reasonable comprehension. 

If you listened to the JSU press conference yesterday, the official statements by the school provided more questions than a straight forward answer to Why?  This is a  head scratch and it will be interesting to see who this administration will select to take them to the next level.  Call it progress if you may, but I recall the Tigers 2-8 seasons before Comegy.

Everyone has an opinion....JSU College Football Hall of Famer Willie Richardson shared his perspective on the Comegy firing and the possible path forward on ESPN The Zone yesterday.  Take a listen.

If you have been reading the universities' vacancy releases, did you recall a requirement for recruitment limitations within 50 miles of main campus; or football players must be as disciplined as the professors on campus 24/7; or the coach must win 100 percent of SWAC games each season?

I didn't see that either. 

So, what the heck was JSU director of university communications, Eric Stringfellow talking about? 

Was he making it all up as he went through the press conference?  And where was the athletic director during this important announcement?  Maybe she was preparing the help wanted ads for the coaches magazine, while Coach was being booted unceremoniously out the door after his 8-4 (8-1 SWAC) competitive championship season. 

Third in all-time wins in JSU history wasn't good enough, they said.

Coach Comegy has 20 years under his belt as a head football coach with a career record of 172-65-2, winner of 0.723 of games played.  But, its not all about wins and losses, they said. 

One of his mentors, William "Billy" Joe (Central State/FAMU/Miles) is in the College Football Hall of Fame with a record of 200-74-2 (0.728), based upon information in the football data warehouse http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com. 

Good luck with that new hire, JSU Tigers.

Interesting.

Hampton University got their man in former Division II Winston-Salem State Head Coach Connell Maynor (45-6).  No doubt, Maynor is the real deal and the Pirates instantly becomes a targeted destination for premier division I Florida, North Carolina and Hampton Roads football talent.  My guess is it won't take Coach Maynor long to make the Pirates a feared powerhouse on the FCS level.  Dr. William R. Harvey and Hampton University IS the standard of excellence. Soon, the same will be said of the Pirates football program with Maynor calling the shots.

Enough of my opinions (everyone has an opinion), now the rest of the story on the coaching vacancies and new head football coach appointments (in bold)

1. Grambling State: Broaderick Fobbs    Previous: Doug Williams;  George Ragsdale (Interim) and Dennis "Dirt" Winston (Interim)

2. Alabama A&M:  TBA    Previous: Anthony Jones

3. Hampton: Connell Maynor   Previous: Donovan Rose

4. Mississippi Valley State: TBA;  Previous: Karl Morgan

5. Jackson State: TBA   Previous: Rick Comegy

7. North Carolina Central:  *Jerry Mack     Previous: Henry Frazier III; Dwayne Foster (Interim)

8. Morgan State: TBA   Previous: Donald Hill-Eley

9. Winston-Salem State:  TBA   Previous: Connell Maynor

10. Virginia Union:   TBA   Previous: Michael Bailey

11. Central State (Ohio):  TBA (Darrell Suber (Interim))   Previous: E.J. Junior

12. Kentucky State: Josh Dean   Previous: Josh Dean (Interim)

13. Livingstone: Daryl Williams    Previous: Daryl Williams ( Interim)

14. Virginia University - Lynchburg: Luther Palmer   Previous: Willard Bailey

15. Edward Waters College: Alvin Wyatt, Sr.    Previous: Brad Bernard

16. Norfolk State: Seeking Offensive Coordinator   TBA   Previous: Howard Feggins

* To be announced today.

If we missed anyone, please let us know.

-beepbeep