PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Eric Dooley has been named Prairie View A&M University's head football coach.Dooley, the 33rd head coach in program history, joins Panther Football after spending the previous four seasons at Grambling State University as offensive coordinator (2014-17), including one year as quarterbacks coach (2014) and two years as receivers coach (2016-17). Dooley helped the Tigers to three consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division titles (2015-17), two SWAC Championships (2015-16), and an HBCU National Championship (2016). While at GSU, his offenses averaged at least 31 points per game in all four seasons, and ranked first or second in the SWAC in scoring offense each of the last three seasons. In 2016, he was named American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Assistant Coach of the Year.
Under Dooley's guidance in 2015, Grambling ranked fourth in the nation in scoring (41.3 points per game), scored 65 touchdowns, and averaged 470.0 yards per game. The Tigers have produced the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year each of the last three seasons (QB Johnathan Williams 2015, QB Devante Kincade 2016-17). A pair of players during Dooley's tenure are currently in the NFL (2016 free agent WR Chester Rogers – Indianapolis Colts, 2017 third-round draft pick Chad Williams – Arizona Cardinals).
In three seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2011-13), the Golden Lions offense improved each year under his direction. In 2011, QB Ben Anderson earned SWAC Freshman of the Year accolades while ranking second in the league in passing offense. In 2012, UAPB set a school record for wins (10), and won its first outright SWAC Championship since 1966 and were crowned HBCU National Champions. During Dooley's tenure, tackle Terron Armstead became a third-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Those seven seasons as offensive coordinator were preceded by 14 years as an assistant coach in various roles at Southern University (1997-2010). In his one season as running backs coach (1997), he helped to produce a pair of All-SWAC rushers, including SWAC Player of the Year, Steve Wofford. As receivers coach at Southern (1997-2010), he developed the two most prolific receivers in school history (Michael Hayes, Juamorris Stewart).
Dooley played wide receiver at Grambling under legendary coach Eddie Robinson (1985 – 1988), winning two SWAC Championships. He earned his Bachelor's degree from Southern University New Orleans (1999), and his Master's degree from Southern University Baton Rouge (2005).
His professional playing experience includes earning a free agent contract with the Canadian Football League's Calgary Stampeders, one year with the AFL's Arizona Rattlers and one year with the World League's Taipei Dragons (China). He also spent time coaching at his alma mater, Alcee Fortier Senior High, as the wide receiver coach, and as offensive coordinator at McMain High School, both in New Orleans, La.
"Eric Dooley is ready for this next step and challenge in his coaching career and we are excited to name him as our new head football coach," said PVAMU Vice President/Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson. "From receivers coach to offensive coordinator, he has been a part of or led explosive units throughout his career – resulting in a lot of championship success. He's worked under and with some of the legends of and greats of our conference – from Pete Richardson to Monte Coleman to Broderick Fobbs – all men who have led programs to championships. Our new coach has been a part of teams that have won nine SWAC Championships, six HBCU National Championships, and three Bowl game victories. Simply put, he's a winner, and we look forward to him leading Prairie View A&M football to championship success."
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT ERIC DOOLEY:
"Eric is a solid citizen. He has good work habits and has great communications skills. He's very accountable, trustworthy and honest. He'll do a great job of representing Prairie View A&M because he played in the conference and understands the conference. After playing at Grambling, he was associated with some great teams at Southern as an assistant coach, worked his way up through the ranks, and has been involved in some great programs as a coordinator. I think more than anything else, he understands how to build programs. He's learned really well in terms of order and organization. Also, he's going to demand respect and discipline from his players. The great thing about him is he understands how to recruit. He's a great recruiter, and he understands talent. He's well respected in the coaching profession."
Pete Richardson, Southern University Head Coach 1993-2009
SWAC Champions 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004
HBCU National Champions 1993, 1995, 1997, 2003
"I want to congratulate Prairie View A&M University and Mr. Eric Dooley. It's been a long time coming. What a great, great person first of all, a great Godly man, and secondly a great coach. He won the championship with me in 2012, and I truly don't believe we could have won that championship without the work ethic and knowledge that he brought to the table. I've been waiting for teams to call him to be a head coach, and with that opportunity coming at Prairie View A&M, I think he's going to do an outstanding job. I'm very proud of him. I'm very happy for him. I know he's wanted to be a head coach. He now has that opportunity, and I truly believe within my heart he's going to do very well and be very successful at Prairie View A&M. I want to again congratulate Coach Dooley on his promotion, and I will be praying for him."
Monte Coleman, Arkansas-Pine Bluff Head Coach 2008-2017
SWAC Champions 2012
HBCU National Champions 2012
"It's kind of bittersweet, because he's a personal friend of mine, but he's also a really exceptional football coach and football mind. I want to congratulate him on his new appointment and new opportunity to be the new head football coach at Prairie View A&M. He has a great and loving family, and he's definitely a part of us and we'll definitely miss him. I wish him all the best, and wish him the best of luck in all of his endeavors. We'll always be friends and counterparts. God bless him."
Broderick Fobbs, Grambling St. Head Coach 2014 – Present
SWAC Champions 2016, 2017
HBCU National Champions 2016
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| ERIC DOOLEY HEAD FOOTBALL COACH PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY |
Coach Dooley was a finalist for the vacant head football coaching positions at Prairie View A&M University and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in December 2017.
Eric Dooley completed his fourth season at Grambling State University as the offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach. The 2017 season marks Dooley’s 21st year in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) with stops at Southern University (14 years) and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (three years) prior to his time with the Tigers.
The 2016 season was a banner year for Grambling’s offensive unit under Dooley. The Tigers won the SWAC West Division for the second straight season and won the SWAC Championship on their way to winning the 2016 Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl - claiming the title of HBCU National Champions with an 11-1 record.
Dooley’s offense averaged 39.8 points per game and led the conference in total offense (486.1 ypg.), passing offense (282.7 ypg.) and passing efficiency (160.1). His relentless work ethic and the proficiency of his offensive unit earned him the 2016 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division I FCS Assistant Coach of the Year Award.
Several players earned all-conference and all-American honors for the remarkable season of offense produced under Dooley in 2016. Quarterback DeVante Kincade led the SWAC in passing yards per game (251.8), passing efficiency (166.0), passing touchdowns (31), fewest interceptions (four) and total offensive yards per game (273.8). Kincade earned several accolades in 2016, including the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year Award, the Ben L. Cavil, Sr. “Big Ben” Award, Sheridan Broadcasting Network (SBN) All-American honors, BOXTOROW All-American honors, the SBN Sports Doug Williams Offensive Player of the Year Award and he was named HERO Sports FCS Newcomer of the Year. Additionally, he was a finalist for the Black College Football Hall of Fame Player of the Year Award.
Offensive lineman Justin Miller, running back Martez Carter, and wide Receiver Chad Williams were all named to the All-SWAC First Team for their performance in 2016. Miller and Williams were also named BOXTOROW All-Americans for the second straight year, while wide receiver Verlan Hunter and offensive tackle Trent Scott were named second-team All-SWAC. Williams led the conference in receptions (90), receiving yards (1,337), average receiving yards per game (111.4), and was tied for first in receiving touchdowns with 11. Williams was drafted in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. Verlan Hunter’s productivity earned him a shot with the Washington Redskins, as he signed as an undrafted free agent.
In 2015, Dooley's offensive unit was one of the most explosive in all of FCS. In his second year as the offensive coordinator, Dooley's offense averaged a whopping 41.3 points a game, finishing fourth in the country for scoring offense, and finishing in the top three of every category except rushing (fourth) and third down conversion (fourth). Dooley's offense managed to score 65 touchdowns - 15 more than the first year - and averaged 470 total yards per game.
Dooley helped to produce some of the top offensive players in the SWAC in 2015, including Offensive Player of the Year quarterback Johnathan Williams, who led the conference in touchdown passes; first-team All-SWAC and BOXTOROW All-Americans offensive tackle Justin Miller and wide receiver Chad Williams, who led the conference in receiving yards (1,012) and was second in touchdowns (10); and second-team All-SWAC running back Martez Carter.
The Tigers posted a perfect regular-season conference record (9-0) before being defeated by Alcorn State in the 2015 SWAC Championship Game. Johnathan Williams’ numbers at quarterback earned him SBN and BOXTOROW First-Team All-American honors. Dooley also mentored All-SWAC Second Team wide receiver Chester Rogers who went on to sign with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent and made the Colts’ final 53-player roster for the 2016 season.
When Dooley arrived at GSU, he brought a wealth of experience along with five SWAC Championships, four Black College National Championships, one HBCU championship and two Heritage Bowl wins. During Dooley's first season as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach with the Tigers in 2014, he put the offensive players in the best position to utilize their talents. Quarterback Johnathan Williams was a second team All-SWAC player, and he led the SWAC in most passing yards per game (272.2), pass efficiency (146.2) and total yards per game (326.4). Grambling finished the season 7-5 overall and 7-2 in conference play.
In 2011, Dooley coached SWAC Freshman of the Year Ben Anderson, who led the conference in total offense and was second in the SWAC in passing offense. In 2012, Dooley helped the UAPB to a west division conference championship and its only SWAC Championship title in the SWAC Championship game era, its first outright SWAC title since 1966. The 10-win season was the highest win total in a season in school history. That season, the Golden Lions were voted as HBCU Football National Champions, also a first in the programs’ history. Dooley also coached eventual third-round draft pick Teron Armstead, who was drafted by the New Orleans Saints.
While at Southern, Dooley utilized his coaching expertise to mold the Jaguars’ most productive receiver, All-American Michael Hayes. Hayes broke numerous records for most catches and most reception yardage in a single season in 2000 (80 catches for 1,328 yards 15 TD’s). In 2003, his receivers, led by Chris Davis, Alfred Ard, Lionel Joseph, Drayton Bridges and James Vernon accounted for 218 of the Jaguars’ 520 points, and had 3,484 yards and 33 touchdowns.
In 2001, Dooley mentored another one of the program’s most productive receivers, Devin Lewis. In 2009, Dooley coached Juamorris Stewart, who finished his career as Southern University’s second leading receiver with 200 catches for 2,662 yards and 25 touchdowns. Dooley also tutored the Jaguar offensive backfield, which consisted of first team All-SWAC back Steve Wofford and Melvin Williams. Wofford led the conference in rushing, gaining 1,359 yards and was tabbed the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year.
Dooley's playing experience includes, in camp with the CFL's Calgary Stampeders, one year with the AFL's Arizona Rattlers and one year with the World League's Taipae Dragons (China). He also spent time coaching at his alma mater, Alcee Fortier Senior High, as the wide receiver coach and as offensive coordinator at McMain High School in New Orleans, La.
Dooley earned his bachelor’s degree from Southern University in New Orleans and master’s degree from Southern University at Baton Rouge.
Some of his off-field activities include being a member of the American Football Coaches Association as well as being a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.
Dooley and his wife, Alicia, enjoy the gift of three children, Taajah, Katerra, and Dy'mond.
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