Willie Jeffries facts for kids
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 4, 1937 Union, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| c. 1959 | South Carolina State |
| Position(s) | Center |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1968–1971 | North Carolina A&T (DL) |
| 1972 | Pittsburgh (assistant) |
| 1973–1978 | South Carolina State |
| 1979–1983 | Wichita State |
| 1984–1988 | Howard |
| 1989–2001 | South Carolina State |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 180–132–6 (college) 64–8–2 (high school) |
| Bowls | 3–4 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 3 Black college national (1976–1977, 1994) 7 MEAC (1974–1978, 1987, 1994) |
|
| Awards | |
| 5× MEAC Coach of the Year (1973, 1976, 1978, 1987, 1992) | |
| College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 2010 (profile) |
|
Willie E. Jeffries (born January 4, 1937) is a famous former American football player and coach. He led football teams at South Carolina State University, Wichita State University, and Howard University. Jeffries made history as the first African American head coach of a top-level college football team (NCAA Division I-A) at a mostly white school when he coached Wichita State. He was honored for his great career by being chosen for the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
Contents
Early Life and First Coaching Steps
Willie Jeffries grew up in Union, South Carolina. He went to Sims High School, which was a segregated school at the time. There, he played football for coach James F. Moorer, who had a very impressive winning record.
Jeffries started his coaching journey in 1960. He was an assistant coach at Barr Street High School in Lancaster, South Carolina. Later, he got his first chance to be a head coach in Gaffney, South Carolina. He had a fantastic record there, winning 64 games, losing only 8, and tying 2 times over seven seasons.
Coaching College Teams
South Carolina State Bulldogs
Willie Jeffries coached the South Carolina State Bulldogs team for 19 seasons. He had two different periods there: from 1973 to 1978 and again from 1989 to 2001. During his time, his teams won three black college football national championships (in 1976, 1977, and 1994). They also won seven championships in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
Many talented players were coached by Jeffries at South Carolina State. Some of them, like Harry Carson and Donnie Shell, later became famous in the College Football Hall of Fame. Other notable players included Robert Porcher, Orlando Brown Sr., and Dextor Clinkscale.
In 2010, South Carolina State University gave Jeffries a special title: Head Football Coach Emeritus. This means he would continue to help the university. He would work with alumni and others to support the school and its sports programs. The university president, Dr. George Cooper, said Jeffries could help the university grow because so many people admired him.
Wichita State Shockers
In 1979, Jeffries became the head coach at Wichita State University. This was a very important moment because he was the first African American head coach of a top-level college football program (Division I-A) at a school that was mostly white.
Jeffries coached Wichita State for five seasons, from 1979 to 1983. His 1982 team had a great season, winning 8 games and losing only 3. This was the last winning season for Wichita State's football program before it stopped in 1986. Overall, his record at Wichita State was 21 wins, 32 losses, and 2 ties.
During his time at Wichita State, there were some issues with rules. This led to the team facing penalties, like not being allowed on live television and losing some scholarships. These problems contributed to Wichita State ending its football program a few years later. Some players Jeffries coached at Wichita State include Anthony Jones and Jumpy Geathers.
Howard Bison
After Wichita State, Jeffries coached at Howard University from 1984 to 1988. In 1987, he led the Howard Bison football team to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship. However, this title was later taken away because some players on the team were not eligible to play. His coaching record at Howard was 21 wins and 32 losses. Many players from his Howard teams went on to play in the NFL, such as Jimmie Johnson and Sean Vanhorse.
Awards and Honors
Willie Jeffries has received many special awards for his contributions.
- On May 5, 1988, the Governor of South Carolina gave him the Order of the Palmetto. This is the highest honor a civilian can receive in South Carolina. It is given to people who have a big impact across the state.
- On October 13, 2001, he received the Order of the Silver Crescent from Governor Jim Hodges. This award is for people who have made important contributions to their local community or profession.
- On June 20, 2009, Jeffries was added to the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame. This recognized his groundbreaking role as the first African American head coach at Wichita State.
- Jeffries was officially inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on July 16–17, 2010. This is one of the highest honors for college football players and coaches.
- The football field at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium at South Carolina State University was named "Willie E. Jeffries Field" in his honor. This special event happened during a football game on November 5, 2010.
Personal Life
Willie Jeffries has been a good friend of Herman Boone for a long time. They first met when they were both assistant coaches in North Carolina. Herman Boone, who was the subject of the movie Remember the Titans, wrote a letter supporting Jeffries' induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. In his letter, Boone said that Jeffries' leadership helped improve race relations in sports.
Coaching Record Summary
Willie Jeffries had a long and successful coaching career.
- At South Carolina State, he coached for 19 seasons, with an overall record of 128 wins, 77 losses, and 4 ties.
- At Wichita State, he coached for 5 seasons, with a record of 21 wins, 32 losses, and 2 ties.
- At Howard, he coached for 5 seasons, with a record of 31 wins and 23 losses.
- His total college coaching record was 180 wins, 132 losses, and 6 ties. He also had an impressive high school coaching record of 64 wins, 8 losses, and 2 ties.
