In this age of being able to gamble on nearly every aspect of sports, very few bettors would have wagered on Deion (Coach Prime) Sanders being the first Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee to be a head coach at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU).
Sanders, whose contract was not renewed this season as an analyst at NFL Network, was named head coach earlier this week at Jackson State University (JSU) in Jackson, Mississippi. The school has produced dozens of outstanding NFL players over the years including Pro Bowlers Jackie Slater, Rich Caster and the late Walter Payton.
“Coach Sanders is student-athlete centered and cares about young men and their well-being beyond the football field,” says JSU Athletic Director Ashley Robinson. “We expect to compete for and win championships at Jackson State and Coach Sanders will help us achieve those goals.”
While the first Hall of Famer to become an HBCU coach after enshrinement, Sanders is not the only current Pro Football Hall of Famer ever to be a HBCU head coach. Dolphins legend Larry Little was named head coach at North Carolina Central in 1993 just a couple of months BEFORE being formally enshrined in Canton. (Little stepped down after the 1998 season.)
“I am truly blessed to be the head coach at JSU,” says Sanders who currently is coaching his son’s high school team in Texas. JSU has always enjoyed a high level of commitment academically and athletically. It is my desire to bring more national recognition to the athletes, the university, and HBCUs in general.”
Coach Sanders will be announcing his new staff in the near future. If you are betting, you might safely wager that one or more NFL alumni will be moving to Jackson to join the low-profile, low-key new college coach.
We at NFL Alumni wish our lifetime member Deion Sanders only success in his new surroundings.
