Willie Totten facts for kids
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Quarterbacks coach |
| Team | Southern |
| Conference | SWAC |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | July 4, 1962 Leflore County, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1981–1985 | Mississippi Valley State |
| 1986 | BC Lions |
| 1987 | Toronto Argonauts |
| 1987 | Buffalo Bills |
| 1988 | Chicago Bruisers |
| 1989 | Pittsburgh Gladiators |
| 1991 | New Orleans Night |
| Position(s) | Quarterback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1988 | Grambling State (GA) |
| 1990–1997 | Mississippi Valley State (assistant) |
| 1998–1999 | Eastside HS (MS) |
| 2000–2001 | Mississippi Valley State (OC) |
| 2002–2009 | Mississippi Valley State |
| 2013 | Albany State (QB) |
| 2014–2018 | Alabama A&M (QB) |
| 2019–2022 | Mississippi Valley State (AHC/QB) |
| 2023–present | Southern (QB) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 31–57 (college) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| First-team All-Arena (1989) MVSU Athletics Hall of Fame (2006) |
|
| College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 2005 (profile) |
|
Willie "Satellite" Totten (born July 4, 1962) is a famous American football coach and former player. He is currently the quarterbacks coach for the Southern University football team. Totten is especially known for his amazing college football career where he broke many records as a quarterback.
College Football Star
Totten played college football for the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils. He was a fantastic quarterback, and he teamed up with another future football legend, Jerry Rice, who was a wide receiver. Together, they created one of the most exciting offenses in college football history!
Willie Totten set over 50 passing records in the NCAA Division I-AA (which is now called the FCS). Jerry Rice also set many receiving records. Their team, the Delta Devils, scored an incredible average of 59 points per game in the 1984 season. Totten threw for a record-breaking 58 touchdowns that year! This amazing performance led their team to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. Their coach, Archie Cooley, designed this pass-heavy offense that perfectly used Totten's skills.
Professional Playing Career
After college, Totten played professional football in a few different leagues. He played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for teams like the BC Lions and Toronto Argonauts.
He also played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Buffalo Bills during a strike-shortened season in 1987. Totten played in two games for the Bills.
Later, Totten played in the Arena Football League (AFL). He played for the Chicago Bruisers, Pittsburgh Gladiators, and the New Orleans Night. With the Chicago Bruisers, his team made it to ArenaBowl II, which is like the championship game for arena football. His best season in the AFL was in 1989 with the Pittsburgh Gladiators.
Coaching Journey
Willie Totten earned his master's degree at Grambling State University. He started his coaching career there as a graduate assistant under the legendary head coach Eddie Robinson.
Totten then returned to his old college, Mississippi Valley State. He coached quarterbacks and running backs there in the 1990s. After coaching at the high school level for two years, he came back to Mississippi Valley State in 2000. He became the head coach in 2001. Totten helped bring pride back to the Delta Devils football team, leading them to winning seasons in 2005 and 2006.
After leaving Mississippi Valley State in 2009, Totten took an administrative job at the university. In 2013, he became the quarterbacks coach at Albany State University. The next year, he moved to Alabama A&M University as their quarterbacks coach. In 2019, Totten returned to Mississippi Valley State again, this time as an assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach. Since 2023, he has been the quarterbacks coach at Southern University.
Honors and Recognition
Willie Totten has received some very special honors. He is one of the few college football coaches who has coached in a stadium named after him! The Delta Devils football team plays in Rice–Totten Stadium. This stadium is named for both Willie Totten and his famous teammate, Jerry Rice.
Totten is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. This means he is recognized as one of the greatest college football players of all time. He is also a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.
