Houston Markham facts for kids
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1944 Brookhaven, Mississippi |
| Died | July 17, 2019 (aged 75) |
| Playing career | |
| c. 1964 | Alcorn State |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1966 | Vicksburg Temple HS (MS) (assistant) |
| 1967–1970 | Vicksburg Temple HS (MS) |
| 1971–1972 | Vicksburg North HS (MS) |
| 1973–1974 | Vicksburg HS (MS) |
| 1975–1986 | Jackson State (assistant) |
| 1987–1997 | Alabama State |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 69–47–4 (college) 63–16–3 (high school) |
| Bowls | 1–0 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 black college national (1991) 1 SWAC (1991) |
|
Houston Markham Jr. (born around 1944 – died July 17, 2019) was an important figure in American football. He was both a player and a coach. He is most famous for being the head football coach at Alabama State University. He led their team, the Alabama State Hornets, for many years.
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Who Was Houston Markham?
Houston Markham Jr. was born in Brookhaven, Mississippi, around 1944. He loved football from a young age. He played college football at Alcorn State University. After his playing days, he decided to become a coach.
Starting His Coaching Journey
Markham began his coaching career in high school. He worked as an assistant coach at Vicksburg Temple High School in Mississippi in 1966. He then became the head coach there from 1967 to 1970. Later, he coached at Vicksburg North High School (1971–1972) and Vicksburg High School (1973–1974). His high school teams had a great record of 63 wins, 16 losses, and 3 ties.
After his success in high school, Markham moved to college football. He became an assistant coach at Jackson State University. He worked there from 1975 to 1986. This experience prepared him for a bigger role.
Leading the Alabama State Hornets
In 1987, Houston Markham became the head football coach at Alabama State University. He coached the Alabama State Hornets for eleven seasons, from 1987 to 1997. During his time there, his teams achieved a record of 69 wins, 47 losses, and 4 ties.
The Amazing 1991 Season
The 1991 season was the highlight of Coach Markham's career. His Alabama State team had an incredible year. They finished the season with 11 wins, 0 losses, and 1 tie. This amazing performance earned them two major championships:
- The Black college football national championship. This title is given to the top team among historically black colleges and universities.
- The SWAC championship. This means they were the best team in their conference.
The team also won the Heritage Bowl that year. This was a very special achievement for the university and for Coach Markham.
Markham's Legacy
Houston Markham Jr. was known for his dedication to his players. He helped many young athletes succeed both on and off the field. He retired from coaching after the 1997 season. He passed away on July 17, 2019, at the age of 75. His impact on college football, especially at Alabama State, is still remembered.
