Texas Southern University last week named NFL alum Cris Dishman as the new head coach of its storied football program.
Dishman played for the Houston Oilers from 1988-96. He now joins three former Oilers teammates, who also are coaching at HBCU schools. Bubba McDowell, a third-year head coach at Prairie View A&M, played in Houston from 1989-94. Eddie Robinson, Jr., a member of the Oilers from 1992-95, is in his third season as head coach at Alabama State. Eddie George, who was a rookie running back in 1996 during Dishman’s last season with the team, is in his fourth season as head coach at Tennessee State in Nashville.
Dishman is a coaching veteran at the professional, collegiate, and high school level but this marks his first time as head coach. He most recently was an assistant coach in the XFL spring league last year. He had a similar role in 2022 for the USFL spring league.
Dishman, 58, is not a stranger to the TSU campus which only is a short distance from where his Oilers practiced in the 1980s.
“I was first at TSU and the football field getting extra development as a rookie for the Oilers in 1988,” Dishman tweeted after last week’s announcement. “Every single time I was on campus I was made to feel like I was home. Now 19 years into my coaching career, I can officially call Texas Southern University HOME.”
TSU Board Chairman Brandon L. Simmons says he is “thrilled” to welcome Dishman to the historically black university.
“Coach Dishman is an experienced coach, pro football player, and businessman,“ Simmons said last week. “We are excited to be in a position to see his leadership lead us to wins and his mentorship contribute to student success.”
In addition to the Oilers, Dishman spent time playing cornerback for the Redskins, Chiefs and Vikings during his 13-year career. His coaching career has taken him from Germany with NFL Europe to Baylor University to the CFL Montreal Alouettes.
“I want us all—players, staff, and administration —to grow together because success will be defined in terms of championships on & off the field,” says Dishman, a Louisville native. “The best way I can honor this new role as coach is to develop our team to be great students, players, graduates, people and winners in life.”
We at NFL Alumni wish Chris Dishman much success in his new TSU role. We also congratulate him and his former Oilers teammates, who now are friendly rival coaches, for their achievements in their post-playing days.
