It’s been a while, but alumni and supporters of Texas Southern football finally have something to cheer about.
Texas Southern University officially announced Friday that its former quarterback, Johnnie Cole, is the school’s new head football coach.
Sources have also indicated that it is likely former Alabama State head football coach (and Johnnie’s brother) L.C. Cole will join the staff as defense coordinator.
From the official release:
Houston, TX – Johnnie Cole was named Head Coach of the TSU football team today by Athletics Director Alois Blackwell.Cole was the head coach at Lane College in Jackson, TN for the past three seasons. He follows Steve Wilson who was release earlier this month. “We needed someone who could effectively maximize our team’s potential and take the TSU football program to the next level and based on his success at Lane College, we believe Johnnie Cole is that person,†says Blackwell.
Dozens of TSU fans, football players and alumni came out for the announcement and to show their support for the former Tiger. He is definitely glad to be back. “I have always made it known that I wanted to coach here,†says Cole. “I have been on all sides of TSU football… I played here, coached here and competed here.
This is where I belong.†Coach Cole welcomed the cheers of the fans said their support should not end here. “I can’t do this myself. It’s time for the talk to end and the alumni to step-up and support the program.â€
Cole took the Lane College Dragons from a 0-10 season in 2005 to an 8-3 finish in 2006. It was Lane College’s first winning season since 1995, and Cole was honored as 2006 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) coach of the year.
Cole also spent time as an assistant coach at Alabama State and Tennessee State.
He played quarterback at Texas Southern from 1982 – 1985. He is still ranked among the best in TSU history with the third best career passing record (4247 yards and 33 touchdowns) and fifth for career total offense (4250 yards).
Cole says he is a winning and he plans to make the Tigers winners again as well. “Texas is a football state and we plan to go out and get those talented kids and bring them to TSU to play ball.â€
Johnnie Cole is the thirteenth head coach to lead the Tigers since they began playing the game back in 1947.
This has been a long time coming.
The alumni’s prayers have been answered. I’m not saying Texas Southern football will become an instant force in the conference but once Coach Cole rebuilds those bridges that has been torn down and dismantled from regimes before; respectability, respect and recognition will be once again with Texas Southern athletics.
Congratulations Johnny much success!
IT’S ABOUT TIME THAT COLE BLOODED FOOTBALL GET BACK IN THE SWAC. TO SHOW PEOPLE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO COACH IN THE SWAC AND NO ONE MAN OR SHCOOL SHOULD STOP THEM FROM COACHING. GO GET IT DONE COACH COLE.