John McKenzie has been hired as assistant football coach at Alabama A&M. He will lead the Bulldog receiving corps and manage the academic progress for the football program. McKenzie replaces Roger Totten, who was named the offensive coordinator at Alabama State earlier this spring. A veteran of both the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), McKenzie brings a wealth of experience to his new role on “The Hill.”
McKenzie comes to Alabama A&M after one season as the offensive coordinator at North Carolina A&T, where he helped lead the Aggies to one of their most successful campiagns in years in 2008. Prior to that, he spent seven seasons as the offensive coordinator at Alcorn State where the Braves put up the most impressive offensive numbers in the post-Steve McNair era. From 1997 to 1999 he was the head coach at Delaware State. Other coaching stops include Fayetteville State, Alabama State, and Jackson State. He was the offensive coordinator at Alabama State in 1991 when the Hornets won the Black College National Championship.
Alabama A&M head coach Anthony Jones spoke highly of his new hire. “We lost a good coach in Roger (Totten), but feel we have filled this position with a very capable and experienced coach in Coach McKenzie. We are excited to see his expertise in action on the field.”
The Miami, Fla. native is a 1986 graduate of Jackson State with a degree in Biology. During his Hall of Fame (inducted in 2004) career at quarterback for the Tigers he threw for over 5,000 yards and 43 touchdowns and was twice an All-SWAC selection. During his tenure, the Tigers won three conference titles. McKenzie also earned a Master’s degree in Education from Alcorn State in 2003.
He and his wife, Venus, are the proud parents of three children, two sons (Frederick and Octavian), and a daughter (Jasmine).
