Willie Jeffries Willie Jeffries , ( born January 4 , 1937 ) is a former college football coach . In his 29 - year career , Jeffries compiled a 179 - 132 - 6 record . He coached 19 years at his alma mater South Carolina State University ( SCSU ) in two stints , five years at Wichita State University , and five years at Howard University . Jeffries won almost 60 percent of the college games he coached , which made him the winningest coach in the 107 - year history of SCSU and owner of more MEAC victories than any other coach . Jeffries was the first African American head coach of a NCAA Division I - A football program at Wichita State University . He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010 . Coaching career . South Carolina State . His record during his two stints with the South Carolina State Bulldog football team : 1973 to 1978 and 1989 to 2001 , includes three Black National Championships , seven Mid - Eastern Athletic Conference ( MEAC ) championships , several post - season appearances in Division 1 - AA playoffs and Heritage Bowl , and numerous coaching awards . Players that Jeffries coached at SCSU include Pro Football Hall of Famers Harry Carson and Donnie Shell as well as Robert Porcher , Orlando Brown , Chartric Darby , Dextor Clinkscale , David Norman , and Anthony Cook . In 2010 , Coach Jeffries was named Head Football Coach Emeritus by the South Carolina State University Board of Trustees . With the new role , Coach Jeffries will also serve as a liaison between the university , its alumni and other constituents and also help market the university . University President Dr . George Cooper said of the elevation to Coach Emeritus , " " Coach Jeffries and his wide appeal to so many of our stakeholders and other constituents provide us a great opportunity to brand and market the University . He can help us frame relationships that will increase support for athletics . " SCSU Athletic Director Charlene Johnson added , " Coach Jeffries is truly admired by so many . Not just for his achievements in athletics , but also for his humanitarian contributions to this community , this state and society . He has used football and his great personal skills to bring about better community relations in Orangeburg , the Palmetto State and beyond and I think it ' s very fitting that the university has bestowed this honor upon him . " Wichita State . When Jeffries took over Wichita State in 1979 , he became the first African American to coach a Division I - A University . He is the only man to coach against both Eddie Robinson of Grambling State University and Paul " Bear " Bryant of the University of Alabama . Jeffries was the 32nd head college football coach for the Wichita State University Shockers located in Wichita , Kansas and he held that position for five seasons , from 1979 until 1983 . His 1982 team ' s record of 8 - 3 would prove to be the last winning season in Wichita State history as the program was discontinued after the 1986 season . His overall coaching record at Wichita State was 21 wins , 32 losses , and 2 ties . This ranks him third at Wichita State in terms of total wins and 21st at Wichita State in terms of winning percentage . The players whom Jeffries coached at Wichita State include : Anthony Jones , Jumpy Geathers , and Prince McJunkins . Howard . Jeffries coached at Howard University from 1984 to 1988 . He led the Howard Bison football team to win the Mid - Eastern Athletic Conference ( MEAC ) in 1987 . His coaching record at Howard was 29 wins , 24 losses . The only Bison player who played under Jeffries who went on to the NFL was tight end Jimmie Johnson , who played 10 seasons in the NFL and is currently a tight ends coach with the Minnesota Vikings . Awards and honors . On May 5 , 1988 , the Governor of South Carolina Carroll Campbell presented Coach Jeffries with the Order of the Palmetto . This is the highest civilian honor in the state of South Carolina and is awarded to those citizens who make achievements of statewide impact . Coach Jeffries was awarded the companion honor of the Order of the Silver Crescent by Governor Jim Hodges on October 13 , 2001 . This is awarded to those who make community or professional accomplishments of local significance . On June 20 , 2009 , Coach Jeffries was inducted into the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame for his color barrier breaking run as head coach of Wichita State . Coach Jeffries was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in the enshrinement ceremonies in South Bend , IN on July 16 – 17 , 2010 . The South Carolina State Board of Trustees voted to name the football field in Oliver C . Dawson Stadium after Jeffries . Willie E . Jeffries Field was unveiled during halftime of the November 5 , 2010 Howard at South Carolina State football game . The halftime festivities included an NFF Hall of Fame On - Campus Salute sponsored by The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame . NFF representative Hillary Jeffries ( no relation ) presented Coach Jeffries with a plaque as part of Willie Jeffries day in Orangeburg , SC . Personal life . Coach Jeffries is a good friend of Coach Herman Boone , dating back to when the two were assistant coaches in North Carolina . Coach Boone wrote a letter of recommendation in support of Jeffries ' induction into the College Football Hall of Fame . In it , Boone wrote , " Without his leadership and example , there would not have been " Remember the Titans " or the advancement in race relations in sports that we have witnessed . "