Willie Jeffries
Encyclopedia
Willie Jeffries, was a college football
coach
. In his 29-year career, Jeffries compiled a 179-132-6 record. He coached 19 years at his alma mater South Carolina State University
(SCSU) in two stints, five years at Wichita State University
, and five years at Howard University
. Jeffries won almost 60 percent of the college games he coached, which made him the "winningest coach" in the 107-year history of SCSU and owner of more MEAC victories than any other coach.
Jeffries was the first African American
head coach of a NCAA Division I-A football program at Wichita State University
. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
in 2010.
(MEAC) championships, several post-season appearances in Division 1-AA playoffs and Heritage Bowl
, and numerous coaching awards. Players that Jeffries coached at SCSU include Hall of Famers Harry Carson
and Donnie Shell
as well as Robert Porcher
, Orlando Brown, Chartric Darby, Dextor Clinkscale
, and Anthony Cook
.
In 2010, Coach Jeffries was named Head Football Coach Emeritus by the South Carolina State University Board of Trustees. With the new role, Coach Jeffries will also serve as a liaison between the university, its alumni and other constituents and also help market the university. University President Dr. George Cooper said of the elevation to Coach Emeritus, ""Coach Jeffries and his wide appeal to so many of our stakeholders and other constituents provide us a great opportunity to brand and market the University. He can help us frame relationships that will increase support for athletics."
SCSU Athletic Director Charlene Johnson added, "Coach Jeffries is truly admired by so many. Not just for his achievements in athletics, but also for his humanitarian contributions to this community, this state and society. He has used football and his great personal skills to bring about better community relations in Orangeburg, the Palmetto State and beyond and I think it's very fitting that the university has bestowed this honor upon him."
and Paul "Bear" Bryant of the University of Alabama
.
Jeffries was the 32nd head college football
coach for the Wichita State University Shockers
located in Wichita, Kansas
and he held that position for five seasons, from 1979 until 1983. His 1982 team's record of 8-3 would prove to be the last winning season in Wichita State history as the program was discontinued after the 1986 season. His overall coaching record at Wichita State was 21 wins, 32 losses, and 2 ties. This ranks him third at Wichita State in terms of total wins and 21st at Wichita State in terms of winning percentage.
The players whom Jeffries coached at Wichita State include:
Anthony Jones, Jumpy Geathers
, and Prince McJunkins.
from 1984 to 1988. He led the Howard Bison football team to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
(MEAC) in 1987. His coaching record at Howard was 29 wins, 24 losses. The only Bison player who played under Jeffries who went on to the NFL was tight end Jimmie Johnson
, who played 10 seasons in the NFL and is currently a tight ends coach with the Minnesota Vikings
.
Carroll Campbell presented Coach Jeffries with the Order of the Palmetto
. This is the highest civilian honor in the state of South Carolina and is awarded to those citizens who make achievements of statewide impact.
Coach Jeffries was awarded the companion honor of the Order of the Silver Crescent by Governor Jim Hodges
on October 13, 2001. This is awarded to those who make community or professional accomplishments of local significance.
On June 20, 2009, Coach Jeffries was inducted into the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame for his color barrier breaking run as head coach of Wichita State.
Coach Jeffries was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in the enshrinement ceremonies in South Bend, IN on July 16–17, 2010.
The South Carolina State Board of Trustees voted to name the football field in Oliver C. Dawson Stadium after Jeffries. Willie E. Jeffries Field was unveiled during halftime of the November 5, 2010 Howard at South Carolina State football game. The halftime festivities included an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute sponsored by The National Football Foundation
& College Hall of Fame. NFF representative Hillary Jeffries (no relation) presented Coach Jeffries with a plaque as part of Willie Jeffries day in Orangeburg, SC.
, dating back to when the two were assistant coaches in North Carolina. Coach Boone wrote a letter of recommendation in support of Jeffries' induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. In it, Boone wrote, "Without his leadership and example, there would not have been Remember the Titans
or the advancement in race relations in sports that we have witnessed."
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
. In his 29-year career, Jeffries compiled a 179-132-6 record. He coached 19 years at his alma mater South Carolina State University
South Carolina State University
South Carolina State University is a historically black university located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States. It is the only state funded, historically black land-grant institution in South Carolina and is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.- Colleges, departments,...
(SCSU) in two stints, five years at Wichita State University
Wichita State University
Wichita State University is a NCAA Division I public university in Wichita, Kansas with selective admissions. WSU is one of six state universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The current president is Dr. Donald Beggs....
, and five years at Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
. Jeffries won almost 60 percent of the college games he coached, which made him the "winningest coach" in the 107-year history of SCSU and owner of more MEAC victories than any other coach.
Jeffries was the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
head coach of a NCAA Division I-A football program at Wichita State University
Wichita State University
Wichita State University is a NCAA Division I public university in Wichita, Kansas with selective admissions. WSU is one of six state universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The current president is Dr. Donald Beggs....
. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 2010.
South Carolina State
His record during his two stints with the South Carolina State Bulldog football team: 1973 to 1978 and 1989 to 2001, includes three Black National Championships, seven Mid-Eastern Athletic ConferenceMid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is a collegiate athletic conference of historically black colleges and universities in the Southeastern United States...
(MEAC) championships, several post-season appearances in Division 1-AA playoffs and Heritage Bowl
Heritage Bowl
The Heritage Bowl is a defunct NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision bowl game pitting a team from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference against a team from the Southwestern Athletic Conference...
, and numerous coaching awards. Players that Jeffries coached at SCSU include Hall of Famers Harry Carson
Harry Carson
Harold Donald Carson is a former American football inside linebacker who played his entire professional career for the NFL's New York Giants...
and Donnie Shell
Donnie Shell
Donnie Shell is a former American Football strong safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League between 1974 and 1987. Shell was a member of the Steelers famed Steel Curtain defense in the 1970s.Shell retired as the NFL strong safety career leader in interceptions with 51...
as well as Robert Porcher
Robert Porcher
Porcher is perhaps best recognized as a standout with the Detroit Lions. A 6-foot-3, 275-pound defensive-end, Porcher was a dominant pass-rush specialist and defensive leader on Detroit teams that were perennial Super Bowl contenders in the 1990s....
, Orlando Brown, Chartric Darby, Dextor Clinkscale
Dextor Clinkscale
Dextor Clinkscale is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1980...
, and Anthony Cook
Anthony Cook (American football)
Anthony Andrew Cook is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the Houston Oilers. He played college football for Willie Jeffries at South Carolina State University and was drafted in the second round of the 1995 NFL Draft.-External...
.
In 2010, Coach Jeffries was named Head Football Coach Emeritus by the South Carolina State University Board of Trustees. With the new role, Coach Jeffries will also serve as a liaison between the university, its alumni and other constituents and also help market the university. University President Dr. George Cooper said of the elevation to Coach Emeritus, ""Coach Jeffries and his wide appeal to so many of our stakeholders and other constituents provide us a great opportunity to brand and market the University. He can help us frame relationships that will increase support for athletics."
SCSU Athletic Director Charlene Johnson added, "Coach Jeffries is truly admired by so many. Not just for his achievements in athletics, but also for his humanitarian contributions to this community, this state and society. He has used football and his great personal skills to bring about better community relations in Orangeburg, the Palmetto State and beyond and I think it's very fitting that the university has bestowed this honor upon him."
Wichita State
When Jeffries took over Wichita State in 1979, he became the first African American to coach a Division I-A University. He is the only man to coach against both Eddie Robinson of Grambling State UniversityGrambling State University
Grambling State University is a historically black , public, coeducational university, located in Grambling, Louisiana. The university is the home of legendary football coach Eddie Robinson and is on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail.-Academics:Grambling State University provides over...
and Paul "Bear" Bryant of the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
.
Jeffries was the 32nd head college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
coach for the Wichita State University Shockers
Wichita State University
Wichita State University is a NCAA Division I public university in Wichita, Kansas with selective admissions. WSU is one of six state universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The current president is Dr. Donald Beggs....
located in Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
and he held that position for five seasons, from 1979 until 1983. His 1982 team's record of 8-3 would prove to be the last winning season in Wichita State history as the program was discontinued after the 1986 season. His overall coaching record at Wichita State was 21 wins, 32 losses, and 2 ties. This ranks him third at Wichita State in terms of total wins and 21st at Wichita State in terms of winning percentage.
The players whom Jeffries coached at Wichita State include:
Anthony Jones, Jumpy Geathers
Jumpy Geathers
James Allen "Jumpy" Geathers is a former American football defensive lineman. He played defensive tackle for Willie Jeffries at Wichita State University, and then for thirteen seasons in the National Football League...
, and Prince McJunkins.
Howard
Jeffries coached at Howard UniversityHoward University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
from 1984 to 1988. He led the Howard Bison football team to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is a collegiate athletic conference of historically black colleges and universities in the Southeastern United States...
(MEAC) in 1987. His coaching record at Howard was 29 wins, 24 losses. The only Bison player who played under Jeffries who went on to the NFL was tight end Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson (American football)
James Olden Johnson, Jr. is a former professional American football tight end for ten seasons in the National Football League, mainly for the Washington Redskins and the Philadelphia Eagles....
, who played 10 seasons in the NFL and is currently a tight ends coach with the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
.
Awards and honors
On May 5, 1988, the Governor of South CarolinaGovernor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
Carroll Campbell presented Coach Jeffries with the Order of the Palmetto
Order of the Palmetto
The Order of the Palmetto is the highest civilian honor awarded by the Governor of South Carolina. It is awarded to persons who make contributions of statewide significance. An auxiliary honor is "The Order of the Silver Crescent." Today it is awarded to persons who make community or professional...
. This is the highest civilian honor in the state of South Carolina and is awarded to those citizens who make achievements of statewide impact.
Coach Jeffries was awarded the companion honor of the Order of the Silver Crescent by Governor Jim Hodges
Jim Hodges
James Hovis "Jim" Hodges is a Democrat who served one term as the 114th Governor of South Carolina from 1999 until 2003.-Early career:...
on October 13, 2001. This is awarded to those who make community or professional accomplishments of local significance.
On June 20, 2009, Coach Jeffries was inducted into the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame for his color barrier breaking run as head coach of Wichita State.
Coach Jeffries was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in the enshrinement ceremonies in South Bend, IN on July 16–17, 2010.
The South Carolina State Board of Trustees voted to name the football field in Oliver C. Dawson Stadium after Jeffries. Willie E. Jeffries Field was unveiled during halftime of the November 5, 2010 Howard at South Carolina State football game. The halftime festivities included an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute sponsored by The National Football Foundation
National Football Foundation
The National Football Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1947 by General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army Black Knights football coach Earl "Red" Blaik and journalist Grantland Rice...
& College Hall of Fame. NFF representative Hillary Jeffries (no relation) presented Coach Jeffries with a plaque as part of Willie Jeffries day in Orangeburg, SC.
Personal life
Coach Jeffries is a good friend of Coach Herman BooneHerman Boone
Herman Boone is a former American high school football coach, most famous for coaching at T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia. Boone was portrayed by Denzel Washington in the 2000 film Remember the Titans....
, dating back to when the two were assistant coaches in North Carolina. Coach Boone wrote a letter of recommendation in support of Jeffries' induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. In it, Boone wrote, "Without his leadership and example, there would not have been Remember the Titans
Remember the Titans
Remember the Titans is a 2000 American sports film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Boaz Yakin. Inspired by real events, the plot was conceived from a screenplay written by Gregory Allen Howard. The film starts as a new coach of the Titans, a football team previously coached by the...
or the advancement in race relations in sports that we have witnessed."
External links
- Willie Jeffries at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Willie Jeffries at the College Football Hall of FameCollege Football Hall of FameThe College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
- ESPNews Interview on February 11, 2009
- ESPN.com SportsNation chat on February 11, 2009
- Wichita Sports Hall of Fame Inductees