By D. Orlando Ledbetter

ATLANTA — Last season, all of the fuss was about Michael Vick taking over at Norfolk State and DeSean Jackson moving in at Delaware State as the head football coaches.

This offseason Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk headlines a group of new coaches at HBCUs who have pro football experience and now are in the midst of Spring football practices.

Faulk, who played for the Colts and Rams from 1994-2005,  replaced Fred McNair at Southern.

“It’s a pot of gumbo right here,” Faulk recently told Kevin Bapiste of WAFB Channel 9. “We are going to mix it all together and make sure obviously the coaching staff is the roux that holds it all together and hopefully, it tastes as good as gumbo does.”

Faulk is touting “Team over Me” as he tries to get the Jaguars to establish an identity.

Ted White, who spent time with the Jaguars, Chiefs, Bucs and Raiders, was named the new head coach at Howard after Larry Scoutt left to be a position coach at Auburn. White also played Internationally in Barcelona, Frankfurt and Montreal.

Van Malone, a former special teams maven with the Lions from 1994-97, was named the new coach at Hampton.

Quinn Gray, who played with the Jaguars and Chiefs from 2005-08, was named the new coach at Florida A&M. He signed a five-year, $1.4 million deal with the school.

Morehouse replaced former NFL player Terance Mathis with coach Brad Sherrod.

Clark Atlanta named Terry Sims as their head coach.

David Browser replaced Quinn at Albany State.

Also, Dawson Odums was named the head coach at Bowie State.

Gray recently led Albany State football to one of the best seasons in school history. He posted a three-year mark of 24–11 overall record and a dominant 20–4 conference mark at Albany State.

White, one of the most decorated student-athletes in Howard and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) history, White returned to The Mecca with two decades of collegiate and professional coaching experience and a deep understanding of what it means to lead at Howard.

White, the starting quarterback from 1995 to 1999 who still holds program records, brings a résumé that includes coaching experience in the National Football League, NCAA Division I programs, and historically Black colleges and universities.

 “I am deeply honored to be named head football coach at Howard University,” White said. “Howard is more than a university — it is a legacy. I am committed to building a program rooted in discipline, unity, and pride, while competing at the highest level. Our student-athletes will be developed as leaders, scholars, and champions who represent this institution with distinction.”

Malone, wbo was named the 23rd head football coach in Hampton history,  spent the last seven seasons as assistant head coach, pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach at Kansas State.

He was a part of a staff that earn five bowl invitations to the Liberty Bowl, Texas Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Pop-Tarts Bowl and the Rate Bowl.

Malone played at Texas from 1990-93 and was a 1990 freshman All-American, helping lead the Longhorns to the Southwest Conference championship.

SPRING GAMES

–FAMU’s Orange and Green Spring game is on April 3

–Southern Spring game is on April 4

–Fayetteville State Spring game is on April 11

–Virginia Union’s Spring game is April 11

–Howard U. Blue & White Spring Game April  18

–Johnson C. Smith Spring game is on April 25

— Hampton’s Spring game is April 26

SWAC Football Head Coaches (2026 Season)

East Division

• Alabama A&M: Sam Shade

• Alabama State: Eddie Robinson, Jr.

• Bethune-Cookman: Raymond Woodie Jr.

• Florida A&M: Quinn Gray Sr.

• Jackson State: T.C. Taylor

• Mississippi Valley State: Terrell Buckley

West Division

• Alcorn State: Cedric Thomas

• Arkansas-Pine Bluff (UAPB): Alonzo Hampton

• Grambling State: Mickey Joseph

• Prairie View A&M: Tremaine Jackson

• Southern: Marshall Faulk

• Texas Southern: Cris Dishman

MEAC COACHES

Ted White, Howard

DeSean Jackson, Delaware State

Chenis Berry, South Carolina State

Mike Vick, Norfolk State

Damon Wilson, Morgan State

Trei Oliver, North Carolina Central