As we all know coaching in collegiate athletics is not an easy thing to do. Deion Sanders famously said that "coaches are either terminated or elevated" and this rings true yearly. In the SWAC Western division alone this season there are four new Head Coaches. Fred McNair was rumored to be elevated from Alcorn State to Texas Southern which didn't materialize, and elevated defensive coordinator Cedric Thomas into the head coach position. Texas Southern, Southern, and Grambling all sent Coaches packing who weren't meeting program expectations. This year seems to be a lighter year as far as head coaching turnover but we'll focus on 5 HBCU coaches who could be shown the door at the conclusion of the 2024 season.
Connell Maynor
Alabama A&M
7th season
34-26 overall record
Connell Maynor was able to accomplish something that hadn't been done much at Alabama A&M which was win a SWAC Football Title. The Bulldogs were able to win an abbreviated spring title in 2021 which gave A&M faithful only their 2nd SWAC football Championship and 1st since 2006. Since that time things have been rough on the Bulldogs. Alabama A&M has failed to finish higher than 3rd in the SWAC East Division including two back to back 4th place finishes in 2022 and 2023. The Bulldogs are 16-12 overall since winning the Spring title and 12-12 record in the SWAC. The thing that stings the most (no pun intended) for the Bulldog Faithful is the emergence of Alabama State who've beaten the Bulldogs twice in a row but have also taken a step forward as a potential conference title contender. Another season below .500 and a 3rd place finish or worse in the SWAC East could mean that Maynor will be packing his bags come November.
Dawson Odoms
Norfolk State
4th season
11-23 overall record
When Dawson Odoms left Southern he had resurrected one of the proud programs in all of HBCU football. In 8 full seasons as Head Coach at Southern, Odoms never had a losing season. He also ended a decade long title drought in Baton Rouge with his team's win in the 2013 SWAC Championship Game. Odoms would leave the Jaguars to 4 conference title games in 8 years and ended his tenure at Southern with a 63-32 overall record and an impressive 53-16 record in SWAC play. Since arriving in Norfolk, Odoms has not been able to have that same success. In 2021 during his first season as head coach it appeared that Coach Odoms and the Spartans were headed to a conference title and a trip to Atlanta for The Celebration Bowl when they traveled to North Carolina Central in early November with a record of 6-2 and 2-0 in MEAC play. The Spartans would lose that day in double OT and would not win another game until October 8th of the following year. Through three seasons Coach Odoms has only been able to muster an 11-23 overall record and a 5-10 record in conference play. The 2023 Spartans finished the year 3-8 but 6 off those 8 losses came down to the final possession which gives Spartan fans a sense of optimism. If the Spartans can win 5 or more games that should buy Coach Odoms another year to create a winning program with his young roster. Another 3-win season would mean that the folks behold the green and gold would want to see some changes. That could include Coach Odoms changing zip codes.
Aaron Kelton
Savannah State
3rd Season
7-13 overall record
Prior to the arrival of Aaron Kelton, the Savannah State program had seemed to be headed in the right direction. The Tigers were able to finish the 2019 season 7-3 and unbeaten in the SIAC under then Head Coach Shawn Quinn. In 2021 the Tigers would go 8-2 overall and a 5-1 record in the SIAC. The Tigers barely missed out on a playoff spot and it seemed that the Savannah State Tigers were back! Enters Aaron Kelton and Savannah State has now taken several steps backwards. Kelton is 7-13 through his first two seasons at Savannah State and only 4-11 in conference play. Kelton has been a head coach at two different stops prior to arriving at Savannah State. He was the Head Coach at Williams College of Williamstown from 2010-2015 compiling a 23-25 record as Head Coach. He was also head coach at Shorter University from 2016-2017 with a 0-22 record as Head Coach. If you're doing the math at home, Kelton was 23-47 as a head coach when he arrived in Savannah which makes many of the Tiger faithful wonder why was he hired in the first place? The 3rd season could be the charm for Kelton in Savannah or it could be more of the same which could end up as his 3rd time being shown the door as a Head Coach.
Robert Massey
Winston-Salem State
5th season
14-24 overall
Winston-Salem State was once the class of HBCU football. The Rams played for a Division II National Title in 2012 and had a stretch where they were consistently ranked in the top 10 in Division II Polls. Times have certainly changed in The Twin City. Robert Massey took over the program in 2019 and so far he hasn't been able to get the Rams over the hump. His best finish in the CIAA came a season ago where he went 4-4 in conference. Massey has a 14-24 overall record as head coach and a 13-16 record in CIAA conference play. Prior to arriving at Winston-Salem State. Massey was the Head Coach at Livingstone (2005-2006) and Shaw (2012-2015) and had a combined record of 16-44 and a CIAA record of 12-30. The Ram faithful have grown tired and so far Massey hasn't given the “Sea of Red” much to cheer about. Another sub .500 season in Winston-Salem could spell the end of the Massey Era at WSSU.
HONORABLE MENTION | SOMETHING TO THINK ON
Eddie George
Tennessee State
4th season
15-18 overall record
Eddie George enters season four at Tennessee State and is coming off of his best season yet as a Head Coach. George came into Tennessee State with no coaching experience but so far you can see Tennessee State trending in the right direction. The questions is, how patient will the administration of Tennessee State be with George who's still learning on the job. Coach George has a 15-18 overall record and 7-10 record in conference. A year ago the Tigers were 6-2 and ranked just outside of the top 25 headed into the month of November. The Tigers would lose 3 straight to finish the season 6-5 and in 9th place in the Big South-OVC Conference standings. This year is crucial for the Tigers. Momentum has been built from last season and a very impressive recruiting haul by Coach George and staff. If Tennessee State can build on the 6-wins from a year ago then 2025 could be a conference title contending team. Drop back to 5-wins or less and fans of Tennessee State could grow impatient.
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