Here are the grades for every HBCU football head coaching hire this offseason.
Sam Shade, Alabama A&M: A
We begin this list with Alabama A&M, who snagged Sam Shade away from the reigning SIAC champion Miles Golden Bears.
After 14 years of serving as an assistant coach at various levels, Shade was hired as Miles’ head coach in 2022.
He helped the Golden Bears return to championship contention, going from a 1-9 record in his first season to a 7-3 record the following year.
This past season, the former NFL veteran led Miles to its first SIAC championship since 2019, knocking off Clark Atlanta 53-25 in the title game.
He then led Miles to its first Division II playoff win in school history, beating Carson-Newman 14-13.
Not only does Coach Shade have proven credentials as a head coach, he has deep connections to the state of Alabama.
He is an alum of the University of Alabama and has coached at the state’s high school and college levels. Alabama A&M hit a home run with this hire.
DeSean Jackson, Delaware State: B+
Delaware State surprised everyone by hiring former NFL Pro Bowl wide receiver DeSean Jackson as the program’s next head coach.
Jackson is one of two former NFL Pro Bowlers with no prior collegiate coaching experience hired to become head coach in the MEAC this offseason.
While the results on the field remain to be seen, Jackson has not wasted any time getting to work in the recruiting trail.
He has already fielded five transfer commits, including three former FBS players, one of whom came from a Power Four program.
Delaware State needs a spark. It has gone 12 years without an overall winning season and 11 years without a winning conference record.
The Hornets’ early recruiting period looks promising, but it doesn’t mean anything if it doesn’t translate to wins.
Adrian Jones, Elizabeth City State: C
After Shaw relieved him of his duties, Adrian Jones quickly landed on his feet, remaining in the CIAA as head coach of Elizabeth City State.
In his eight seasons as Shaw’s head coach, Jones posted a 35-45 overall record, including a 29-28 record in CIAA conference competition.
Though he recorded a winning season in 2024, leading the Bears to a 6-4 record, Jones’ tenure at Shaw was rather underwhelming.
Shaw had the opportunity to turn the corner to becoming a contender in the CIAA but could not overtake the top teams in the conference.
Meanwhile, he has been taking over an Elizabeth City State team without a sense of direction for over a decade. They have not had a winning season since 2012, the last time they appeared in the CIAA championship game.
That being said, this is not a bad hire by any means; it’s just not one that will make a big difference.
Michael Vick, Norfolk State: B+
Like Delaware State, Norfolk State also made a splash by hiring former NFL Pro Bowl quarterback Michael Vick as its next head coach.
Vick’s hiring by Norfolk State is a bit different from Delaware State’s hiring of DeSean Jackson because he has a deeper connection to the state of Virginia.
Vick was not only born and raised in Virginia, Newport News, to be exact, but he also starred as a top Heisman candidate at Virginia Tech.
In theory, the former NFL quarterback’s legendary status and ties to the state of Virginia make Norfolk State a prime destination for top recruits in the area and beyond.
While we can applaud Norfolk State for taking a risk with a Hail Mary celebrity hire, we can not properly judge Vick as a head coach until we have some results on paper.
Shawn Gibbs, North Carolina A&T: A+
To return to dominance, akin to its final years in the MEAC, North Carolina A&T called upon Shawn Gibbs to turn the Aggies around.
Gibbs is no stranger to A&T, having previously served on the Aggies coaching staff as tight ends and running backs coach in two stints.
His second tenure as running backs coach was most fruitful. He directed an Aggies’ run game that helped produce three different MEAC Offensive Player of the Year winners.
This includes future NFL All-Pro selection Tarik Cohen, who won the award three years in a row.
Gibbs returns to North Carolina A&T after three years as head coach at Fort Valley State, leading the Wildcats to a 22-9 overall record.
NCAT made a masterful hire by hiring someone with a history with the Aggies and the seal of approval from former players and alumni.
Tremaine Jackson, Prairie View A&M: A
After choosing not to renew the contract of Bubba McDowell, Prairie View A&M dipped into Division II waters and hired former Valdosta State head coach Tremaine Jackson.
Jackson is no stranger to the SWAC, having previously played for and coached at Texas Southern. He was a member of the Tigers’ coaching staff from 2008-2011, helping guide TSU to a now-defunct SWAC championship.
The former Texas Southern student-athlete has been a head coach for Colorado Mesa and Valdosta State since 2020. He has a 40-12 overall record, including two Division II playoff appearances.
This season, Jackson led Valdosta State to a perfect 10-0 regular-season record and to the Division II National Championship game.
In addition to his ties at Texas Southern, Jackson has numerous connections to the state of Texas. He was born and raised in Houston and has served on multiple collegiate coaching staffs in the state.
On paper, this is an excellent move that could make Prairie View A&M a contender in the SWAC for years to come.
Greg Ruffin, Shaw: D
Rounding out the list is Shaw, who brought back Greg Ruffin to take over as head coach after moving on from Adrian Jones.
Ruffin has a history with Shaw, coaching the team to a 7-3 record in the first season of the football program being restored in 2002.
However, in the years since he left Shaw, Ruffin has had a rough go, producing a 7-35 record in head coaching stops at Paine College, Texas College, and Edward Waters, respectively.
Shaw has been on the edge of being a contender in the CIAA off and on for many years but have been unable to get over the hump.
Bringing in Ruffin, who has an unproven track record as a head coach, is a questionable decision.
