MVSU narrows coaching search to four


SAME OLD G

SAME OLD G

A product of Greatness
Staff member
http://www.swacpage.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=all&id=1008602356

ITTA BENA, MS - Members of Mississippi Valley State University's Head Football Coach Search Committee has narrowed the list of applicants for the vacancy by submitting four names of candidates to Athletics Director Lonza Hardy Jr.

The committee members, comprised of alumni, athletic and administrative staff and a student-athlete representative, convened on Thursday, December 13, to review the list of applicants.

The four candidates to be interviewed between December 18 and December 19 will be Haney Catchings, Mario Kirksey, Clifton Moore and Willie Totten.

Catchings, a 1972 graduate of Alcorn State University, is currently the head football and track and field coach at Seventy First High School in Fayetteville, NC. His resume includes head coaching stints at Prairie View A&M University and Tuskegee University.

Kirksey, a former standout linebacker at Jackson State University, is now a principal at nearby Shaw High School. The 1983 JSU grad served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Alcorn State from 1994-98 and as a linebackers coach for the Delta Devils from 1987-89.

Moore is a 1976 graduate of MVSU and is currently in his eighth year as the defensive coordinator at Florida A&M University of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Charleston, MS native headed the West Virginia State College football program from 1984-89 and was defensive coordinator at Central State for three years prior to moving on to FAMU.

Totten, also a graduate of MVSU in 1986, most recently served as the Delta Devils offensive coordinator for the past two seasons. The former quarterback at MVSU is directing the recruiting activities and overseeing the Delta Devils football operations until a successful candidate has been named.

Hardy said he hopes the new coach will be named before the school closes for the holiday break on December 21.
 
It should be between FAMU's Moore and Totten. MVSU needs defense more than offense. Hmmm! I wonder why they just didn't give it to Totten if he wanted it. MVSU surely needs defense more than an offense.
 



If I had to vote...

I would say that Valley will stick to it's own and give the job to Coach Moore. Totten will still be around to work the offense and the defense will be a whole lot tougher. I just can't see them staying in the SWAC and not get one of their own.
 
Catchings is a quality coach and has made contacts throughout the state of Mississippi, Georgia, and Alabama. I think he would be a good fit!
 
I don't know if I can agree with that statement Mike. Our porgram was at a very low level while Catchings was the coach. Talent level was low and we weren't winning very many games. His last year we were 2-9 in '95. Then we brought Comegy in. I thought MVSU was going to go with Totten myself.
 
My heart says go with Totten, because he was a part of the success the school once had. But, my head says what is the offense doing under his coordination, so why promote at this point. Thus, my head says get MOORE from your choice. A man named Moore has to be the best choice... :-) Plus, I like a coach that focuses on the defense and special teams being solid. I love to have team with offense, but I HATE not being able to dominate defensively and not being able to create excitement or generate point via Special Teams. So, that is another reason the defensive background of Moore would make him my favorite. Yet, I don't recall FAMU's defensive being too impressive against SU. But, their offense gave us some fits also. So, without looking at his overall team defensive stats, I'd be leaning with my head towards Moore and the defensive first concept. Hopefully, Totten will be still their and can get more out of the offense than he has thus far.

PEACE!!!
 
On yesterday's six oclock news in Tallahassee, it was announced that FAMU's Defensive Coordinator Rev. Clifton Moore would be named the new head coach at MSVP today.

Anyword yet?
 
The main thing is he gonna be able to recruit ? Their biggest dilema has always been that if Im a HS athlete am I gonna go to an envrionment like the MS Delta.
 
Willie "Satellite" Totten has been hired as the Head Coach of the Delta Devils. He is looking to bring victories back to the Delta. He says they must focus on getting the kids that aren't as fast, as big, etc.. that they can develop into a winning tradition.

I was back home in MS on Friday when I heard the announcement on the 10pm sports.

I wish him well. The school and the athletic program could use some success from the school's athletics, so more money can be generated for the school.

PEACE!!!
 
I hope like "L" that Totten can recruit some quality athletes. His offenses ain't been worth squat since he was coordinator.
 
Originally posted by Robber
I hope like "L" that Totten can recruit some quality athletes. His offenses ain't been worth squat since he was coordinator.
Click to expand...

For the sake of Valley returning to some level of respect in the SWAC, I hope he was hindered by the head coach. Otherwise, why would Valley make this decision? I guess we will all see in a couple of years.

PEACE!!!
 
I'm not defending him or anything, but if the offense isn't worth squat, how can u have the SWAC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2 years in a row???


Our biggest problem has always been mental mistakes and stupid turnovers. Hopefully Totten will bring some discipline and breathe life into the whole program, since he has no one looking over his shoulder now.
 
He'll need some Good Luck......

I think Valley really had no choice but to hire Totten as HC. he set all of your passing records, and has come home and was on your coaching staff, and has coached long enough to be considered for the job. I think Valley's hands were tied. They had to name him HC. How could they not? I still think that there are some Valley folks who feel that Valley owes it to Totten, after he didn't get drafted, and all that.

My personal feeling is that he shouldn't have been named HC. I didn't see anything spectacular about Valley's offense. But I think they named him HC partly because of who he is(in reprect to their program: ala Doug Williams) and they've got a young team, and they stayed relatively healthy all season on the OL. That means that this bunch will be a year older and wiser next year. And, if you brought in somebody totally new, they'd have to learn a new system. This way, the system should stay the same. So be attrition, they should be better. Now I just hope that Totten can recruit.

I do hope he has some success. But I'll say this: don't expect Valley to give him long to produce. I'd say he's got three years to turn it around. And if he hasn't, he'll be gone. And then they can look for and hopefully find a qualified coach.

I don't wanna sound like I don't like Totten, 'cause that's not it. I just don't think he was the best choice they had. He was probably the ONLY choice......

But we'll see........Maybe they'll pull an Alcorn and turn it around next year.....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top