Replacing Deion Sanders: 10 possible candidates for next Jackson State football coach
JACKSON, Miss. — The departure of Deion Sanders to Colorado surely didn't catch Jackson State athletics director Ashley Robinson off guard. He received three seasons from Sanders, who helped impact the school in revenue generation, national exposure and recruiting.
A new venture was only a matter of time.
Look for Robinson to swing for the fence as he searches for Sanders' replacement, with an impact coach and offensive guru, who also is a progressive thinker.
Robinson has ties to the athletics community not many people know about, and he has a track record for thinking outside the box to find coaches where others see coordinators.
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Here are 10 early suggestions to replace Sanders, including Hail Mary options and safer bets:
Kevin Sumlin, Houston Gamblers coach
Not the most likely candidate, but he's first on this wish list. Even better, Sumlin should be available after coaching the Houston Gamblers of the USFL. The former Texas A&M coach has been successful nearly everwhere he's been, and he coaches Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel at A&M. everywhere and coached Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel. Along with his tenures at Houston and Arizona, Sumlin has a career record of 95-63.
Willie Simmons, Florida A&M coach
This is not as farfetched as one might think. Robinson bonds with his coaches and wants a family feel, and Florida A&M's Willie Simmons and Robinson have a connection that goes back years — Robinson hired him as the coach at Prairie View in 2014 and worked with him through 2017. While there, Simmons amassed a 22-11 record before taking the FAMU job. He has a 51-23 record overall and would be an easy sell for the JSU fanbase.
Vincent Dancy, Mississippi Valley State coach
Don't focus on Vincent Dancy's 10-38 record at Mississippi Valley State. The program's progress is better than the record suggests, given the schools antiquated and dilapidated facilities that make some high school football fields in Mississippi look like the Taj Mahal. Dancy, a former Jackson State linebacker / defensive back, can flat-out coach, his best year coming in 2021 when the Delta Devils went 4-7 and 3-5 in the SWAC East. Dancy was a defensive coach under Rick Comegy and is popular and well-liked in the JSU community.
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T.C. Taylor, Jackson State receivers coach
T.C. Taylor, the JSU wide receivers coach, has been with his alma mater since 2019. Taylor is credentialed as a former two-way player, switching from quarterback to receiver. In Taylor's senior year, he broke the single-season reception record with 84 and totaled 1,234 yards with 11 touchdowns. He was an offensive coordinator for five seasons at North Carolina Central, where the Eagles won three Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) titles.
Cam Newton, retired NFL quarterback
Cam Newton, the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner and Auburn national champion, has a 7-on-7 organization for kids 15-and-under through his Cam Newton Foundation, so the mentoring role wouldn't be new and is something he enjoys. Newton has never been a coach and would need a strong support system, but he's the type of splashy hire that would keep JSU in the spotlight. In other words: If Robinson is thinking outside the box, this is a call to make. Newton earned the NFL MVP award in 2015 while leading the Carolina Panthers to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance.
Jerry Mack, Tennessee running backs coach
Jerry Mack was a wide receiver and tight ends coach for JSU in 2006-07. From 2014-17, he was the coach at North Carolina Central, compiling a 31-15 record. In 2016, Mack was named HBCU Coach of the Year by Black College Sports Page. Mack's team lost in the Celebration Bowl to Grambling 10-9 in 2016.
Ed Orgeron, retired coach
This should not be a stretch. Orgeron is from nearby, Larose, Louisiana. Not only would he be a fit, but he has more coaching jewelry than any of the candidates on this list. Orgeron connects with the Black athlete and can recruit with the best in college football. Orgeron won a national championship at LSU, beating Clemson 42-25 to go 15-0 during the 2019 season.
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Dan Mullen, TV analyst
Dan Mullen is doing studio work at ESPN. He has SEC ties and would be formidable recruiter and coach. He coached Dak Prescott at Mississippi State and is MSU's second-winningest coach behind Allyn McKeen. Mullen coached at Florida before being fired, and it's fair to wonder whether he's only on TV while holding out for his next Power Five opportunity. Still, he's worth a call. His record at MSU was 69-46 and Florida was 34-15, leading to bowl berths in 11-of-13 seasons as coach.
Ray Lewis, retired NFL player
Two-time Super Bowl champion Ray Lewis would resonate with today's Black athletes. No one on this list knows more about being incarcerated and looking for redemption than him. Lewis, who played for the Baltimore Ravens, spent two weeks in jail while on trial for double murder in 2000. Lewis was never convicted of the crimes, but he did plead guilty to obstruction of justice in a case that remains unsolved. Lewis can stress the things Sanders preached about, including discipline, structure and education. He has no coaching experience, but neither did Sanders (outside of high school). Sanders said in April 2021 that Lewis and fellow Hall of Famer Ed Reed expressed interest in coaching at HBCUs.
Mike Minter, Campbell football coach
Mike Minter, the former Nebraska and Carolina Panthers star, saw Jackson State up close when his Campbell program lost 22-14 to the Tigers on homecoming on Oct. 22. Minter's profile is akin to Sanders'. He's a former NFL star who has proven to be a dynamic recruiter at the college level, as Minter signed the top-rated class in the FCS during the 2022 cycle. The recruiting prowess could be enticing for a JSU program looking to keep the roster stocked with top talent.