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<div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">American football player and coach (1926–1983)</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1257001546">.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme) div:not(.notheme){background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table tr{display:table-row!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><table class="infobox vcard"><caption class="infobox-title fn">John Merritt</caption><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image"><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="/wiki/File:John_Merritt.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/ff/John_Merritt.jpg/220px-John_Merritt.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="300" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/ff/John_Merritt.jpg 1.5x" data-file-width="233" data-file-height="318" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color: lightgray; padding-left:0.3em; padding-right:0.3em;">Biographical details</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Born</th><td class="infobox-data"><span style="display:none">(<span class="bday">1926-01-26</span>)</span>January 26, 1926<br /><a href="/wiki/Falmouth,_Kentucky" title="Falmouth, Kentucky">Falmouth, Kentucky</a>, U.S.</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Died</th><td class="infobox-data">December 15, 1983<span style="display:none">(1983-12-15)</span> (aged 57)<br /><a href="/wiki/Nashville,_Tennessee" title="Nashville, Tennessee">Nashville, Tennessee</a>, U.S.</td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color: lightgray; padding-left:0.3em; padding-right:0.3em;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546">Playing career</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="font-weight: normal; white-space: nowrap; padding: 0 1px;">1947–1949</th><td class="infobox-data" style="padding: 0 1px;"><a href="/wiki/Kentucky_State_Thorobreds_football" title="Kentucky State Thorobreds football">Kentucky State</a></td></tr><tr style="display:none"><th colspan="2"> </th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Position(s)</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Guard_(gridiron_football)" title="Guard (gridiron football)">Guard</a></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color: lightgray; padding-left:0.3em; padding-right:0.3em;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546">Coaching career (<a href="/wiki/Head_coach" title="Head coach">HC</a> unless noted)</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="font-weight: normal; white-space: nowrap; padding: 0 1px;">1952–1962</th><td class="infobox-data" style="padding: 0 1px;"><a href="/wiki/Jackson_State_Tigers_football" title="Jackson State Tigers football">Jackson / Jackson State</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="font-weight: normal; white-space: nowrap; padding: 0 1px;">1963–1983</th><td class="infobox-data" style="padding: 0 1px;"><a href="/wiki/Tennessee_State_Tigers_football" title="Tennessee State Tigers football">Tennessee A&I/State</a></td></tr><tr style="display:none"><th colspan="2"> </th></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color: lightgray; padding-left:0.3em; padding-right:0.3em;">Head coaching record</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Overall</th><td class="infobox-data">235–70–12</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Bowls</th><td class="infobox-data">5–2</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Tournaments</th><td class="infobox-data">1–2 (NCAA D-I-AA playoffs)</td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color: lightgray; padding-left:0.3em; padding-right:0.3em;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546">Accomplishments and honors</th></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="text-align: left;">Championships</th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data" style="text-align: left;">8 <a href="/wiki/Black_college_football_national_championship" title="Black college football national championship">black college national</a> (1962, 1965–1966, 1970–1971, 1973, 1979, 1982)<br />5 <a href="/wiki/Midwest_Athletic_Association" title="Midwest Athletic Association">MAA/Midwestern/Midwest</a> (1957, 1963–1966)<br />2 <a href="/wiki/Southwestern_Athletic_Conference" title="Southwestern Athletic Conference">SWAC</a> (1961–1962)</td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="text-align: left;">Awards</th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data" style="text-align: left;"><a href="/wiki/Amos_Alonzo_Stagg_Award" title="Amos Alonzo Stagg Award">Amos Alonzo Stagg Award</a> (1995)</td></tr><tr style="display:none"><th colspan="2"> </th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data" style="background-color: #fb0; font-weight: bold;"><a href="/wiki/College_Football_Hall_of_Fame" title="College Football Hall of Fame">College Football Hall of Fame</a><br />Inducted in 1994 (<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=1907">profile</a>)</td></tr><tr style="display:none"><td colspan="2"> </td></tr></tbody></table> <p><b>John Ayers Merritt</b> (January 26, 1926 – December 15, 1983) was an American <a href="/wiki/College_football" title="College football">college football</a> coach. He served as the head football coach at <a href="/wiki/Jackson_State_University" title="Jackson State University">Jackson State University</a> from 1952 to 1962 and <a href="/wiki/Tennessee_State_University" title="Tennessee State University">Tennessee State University</a> from 1963 to 1983, compiling a career coaching record of 235–70–12. Merritt was inducted into the <a href="/wiki/College_Football_Hall_of_Fame" title="College Football Hall of Fame">College Football Hall of Fame</a> in 1994. </p><p>Merritt was born in <a href="/wiki/Falmouth,_Kentucky" title="Falmouth, Kentucky">Falmouth, Kentucky</a>, and is an alumnus of <a href="/wiki/Kentucky_State_University" title="Kentucky State University">Kentucky State University</a>, where he played <a href="/wiki/Guard_(gridiron_football)" title="Guard (gridiron football)">guard</a> on the football team from 1947 to 1949. He earned the nickname "Big John". He graduated in 1950 and earned a master's degree from the <a href="/wiki/University_of_Kentucky" title="University of Kentucky">University of Kentucky</a> in 1952. </p><p>He coached Jackson State University from 1953 to 1962, where he compiled a record of 63–37–5. Merritt led Jackson State to back-to-back appearances in the <a href="/wiki/Orange_Blossom_Classic" title="Orange Blossom Classic">Orange Blossom Classic</a> in 1961 and 1962 before being hired by what was then Tennessee A&I. At Tennessee State (as Tennessee A&I was renamed in 1968), Merritt had four undefeated seasons, claimed four <a href="/wiki/Midwest_Athletic_Association" title="Midwest Athletic Association">Midwest Athletic Association</a> titles, seven <a href="/wiki/Black_college_football_national_championship" title="Black college football national championship">black college football national championships</a>: (1965, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1979 and 1982) and earned the school's first-ever NCAA Division I-AA playoff victory in 1982. </p><p>Merritt coached many players who went on to the <a href="/wiki/National_Football_League" title="National Football League">National Football League</a> (NFL), including <a href="/wiki/Ed_%22Too_Tall%22_Jones" title="Ed "Too Tall" Jones">Ed "Too Tall" Jones</a>, <a href="/wiki/Joe_Gilliam" title="Joe Gilliam">Joe Gilliam</a>, <a href="/wiki/Claude_Humphrey" title="Claude Humphrey">Claude Humphrey</a>, <a href="/wiki/Mike_Hegman" title="Mike Hegman">Mike Hegman</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Richard_Dent" title="Richard Dent">Richard Dent</a>. His coaching record at Tennessee State was 172–33–7 with an .828 winning percentage—far and away the best in program history.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Death_and_honors">Death and honors</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=John_Merritt_(American_football)&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Death and honors"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Merritt died on December 15, 1983, at <a href="/wiki/Vanderbilt_University_Medical_Center" title="Vanderbilt University Medical Center">Vanderbilt University Hospital</a> in <a href="/wiki/Nashville,_Tennessee" title="Nashville, Tennessee">Nashville, Tennessee</a>, after suffering from heart disease.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>John Merritt Boulevard in <a href="/wiki/Nashville,_Tennessee" title="Nashville, Tennessee">Nashville, Tennessee</a> is named in his honor. The Tennessee State football team usually opens every home season with the John Merritt Classic game at <a href="/wiki/Nissan_Stadium" title="Nissan Stadium">Nissan Stadium</a>, traditionally against <a href="/wiki/Alabama_A%26M_University" title="Alabama A&M University">Alabama A&M University</a>, but more recently the game has also headlined other from other universities. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Head_coaching_record">Head coaching record</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=John_Merritt_(American_football)&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Head coaching record"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <table class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"> <caption> </caption> <tbody><tr> <th>Year </th> <th>Team </th> <th>Overall </th> <th>Conference</th> <th>Standing </th> <th>Bowl/playoffs </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background:#dddddd; border-bottom: 2px solid #aaaaaa;text-align:center;" colspan="9"><b><a href="/wiki/Jackson_State_Tigers_football" title="Jackson State Tigers football">Jackson / Jackson State Tigers</a></b> <i>(<a href="/wiki/Midwest_Athletic_Association" title="Midwest Athletic Association">Midwest Athletic Association</a>)</i> <small>(1952–1957)</small> </td></tr> <tr> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1952_college_football_season" title="1952 college football season">1952</a> </td> <td>Jackson </td> <td>3–5–1</td> <td>0–2–1</td> <td>6th</td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1953_college_football_season" title="1953 college football season">1953</a> </td> <td>Jackson </td> <td>5–4</td> <td>0–3</td> <td>T–6th</td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1954_college_football_season" title="1954 college football season">1954</a> </td> <td>Jackson </td> <td>1–7–1</td> <td>0–4</td> <td>7th</td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1955_college_football_season" title="1955 college football season">1955</a> </td> <td>Jackson </td> <td>5–4</td> <td>0–3</td> <td>T–5th</td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1956_college_football_season" title="1956 college football season">1956</a> </td> <td>Jackson State </td> <td>6–2–2</td> <td>1–1</td> <td>T–2nd</td> <td> </td></tr> <tr style="background:#ff9"> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1957_college_football_season" title="1957 college football season">1957</a> </td> <td>Jackson State </td> <td>6–2</td> <td>2–0</td> <td>T–1st</td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1958_college_football_season" title="1958 college football season">1958</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1958_Jackson_State_Tigers_football_team" title="1958 Jackson State Tigers football team">Jackson State</a> </td> <td>6–2–1</td> <td>2–0</td> <td>2nd</td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background:#dddddd; border-bottom: 2px solid #aaaaaa;text-align:center;" colspan="9"><b><a href="/wiki/Jackson_State_Tigers_football" title="Jackson State Tigers football">Jackson State Tigers</a></b> <i>(<a href="/wiki/Southwestern_Athletic_Conference" title="Southwestern Athletic Conference">Southwestern Athletic Conference</a>)</i> <small>(1959–1962)</small> </td></tr> <tr> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1959_college_football_season" title="1959 college football season">1959</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1959_Jackson_State_Tigers_football_team" title="1959 Jackson State Tigers football team">Jackson State</a> </td> <td>6–4</td> <td>4–3</td> <td>4th</td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1960_college_football_season" title="1960 college football season">1960</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1960_Jackson_State_Tigers_football_team" title="1960 Jackson State Tigers football team">Jackson State</a> </td> <td>6–4</td> <td>4–3</td> <td>4th</td> <td> </td></tr> <tr style="background:#ff9"> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1961_college_football_season" title="1961 college football season">1961</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1961_Jackson_State_Tigers_football_team" title="1961 Jackson State Tigers football team">Jackson State</a> </td> <td>9–2</td> <td>6–1</td> <td>1st</td> <td><b>L</b> <a href="/wiki/Orange_Blossom_Classic" title="Orange Blossom Classic">Orange Blossom Classic</a> </td></tr> <tr style="background:#fc6"> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1962_NCAA_College_Division_football_season" title="1962 NCAA College Division football season">1962</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1962_Jackson_State_Tigers_football_team" title="1962 Jackson State Tigers football team">Jackson State</a> </td> <td>10–1</td> <td>6–1</td> <td>1st</td> <td><b>W</b> <a href="/wiki/Orange_Blossom_Classic" title="Orange Blossom Classic">Orange Blossom Classic</a> </td></tr> <tr style="background:#fafafa; border-top: 2px solid #aaaaaa;"> <td colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" scope="row"><b>Jackson / Jackson State:</b> </td> <td>63–37–5</td> <td>25–21–1</td> <td colspan="5"> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background:#dddddd; border-bottom: 2px solid #aaaaaa;text-align:center;" colspan="9"><b><a href="/wiki/Tennessee_State_Tigers_football" title="Tennessee State Tigers football">Tennessee A&I Tigers</a></b> <i>(<a href="/wiki/Midwest_Athletic_Association" title="Midwest Athletic Association">Midwest Conference / Midwestern Conference</a>)</i> <small>(1963–1966)</small> </td></tr> <tr style="background:#ff9"> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1963_NCAA_College_Division_football_season" title="1963 NCAA College Division football season">1963</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1963_Tennessee_A%26I_Tigers_football_team" title="1963 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team">Tennessee A&I</a> </td> <td>6–3</td> <td>3–0</td> <td>1st</td> <td> </td></tr> <tr style="background:#ff9"> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1964_NCAA_College_Division_football_season" title="1964 NCAA College Division football season">1964</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1964_Tennessee_A%26I_Tigers_football_team" title="1964 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team">Tennessee A&I</a> </td> <td>8–2</td> <td>3–0</td> <td>1st</td> <td> </td></tr> <tr style="background:#fc6"> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1965_NCAA_College_Division_football_season" title="1965 NCAA College Division football season">1965</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1965_Tennessee_A%26I_Tigers_football_team" title="1965 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team">Tennessee A&I</a> </td> <td>9–0–1</td> <td>3–0</td> <td>1st</td> <td><b>T</b> <a href="/wiki/1965_Grantland_Rice_Bowl" title="1965 Grantland Rice Bowl">Grantland Rice</a> </td></tr> <tr style="background:#fc6"> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1966_NCAA_College_Division_football_season" title="1966 NCAA College Division football season">1966</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1966_Tennessee_A%26I_Tigers_football_team" title="1966 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team">Tennessee A&I</a> </td> <td>10–0</td> <td>2–0</td> <td>1st</td> <td><b>W</b> <a href="/wiki/1966_Grantland_Rice_Bowl" title="1966 Grantland Rice Bowl">Grantland Rice</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background:#dddddd; border-bottom: 2px solid #aaaaaa;text-align:center;" colspan="9"><b><a href="/wiki/Tennessee_State_Tigers_football" title="Tennessee State Tigers football">Tennessee A&I / State Tigers</a></b> <i>(<a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_II_independent_schools" title="NCAA Division II independent schools">NCAA College Division / Division II independent</a>)</i> <small>(1967–1976)</small> </td></tr> <tr> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1967_NCAA_College_Division_football_season" title="1967 NCAA College Division football season">1967</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1967_Tennessee_A%26I_Tigers_football_team" title="1967 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team">Tennessee A&I</a> </td> <td>6–3</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1968_NCAA_College_Division_football_season" title="1968 NCAA College Division football season">1968</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1968_Tennessee_State_Tigers_football_team" title="1968 Tennessee State Tigers football team">Tennessee State</a> </td> <td>6–2–1</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1969_NCAA_College_Division_football_season" title="1969 NCAA College Division football season">1969</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1969_Tennessee_State_Tigers_football_team" title="1969 Tennessee State Tigers football team">Tennessee State</a> </td> <td>7–1–1</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr style="background:#fc6"> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1970_NCAA_College_Division_football_season" title="1970 NCAA College Division football season">1970</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1970_Tennessee_State_Tigers_football_team" title="1970 Tennessee State Tigers football team">Tennessee State</a> </td> <td>11–0</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td><b>W</b> <a href="/wiki/1970_Grantland_Rice_Bowl" title="1970 Grantland Rice Bowl">Grantland Rice</a> </td></tr> <tr style="background:#fc6"> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1971_NCAA_College_Division_football_season" title="1971 NCAA College Division football season">1971</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1971_Tennessee_State_Tigers_football_team" title="1971 Tennessee State Tigers football team">Tennessee State</a> </td> <td>9–1</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td><b>W</b> <a href="/wiki/1971_Grantland_Rice_Bowl" title="1971 Grantland Rice Bowl">Grantland Rice</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1972_NCAA_College_Division_football_season" title="1972 NCAA College Division football season">1972</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1972_Tennessee_State_Tigers_football_team" title="1972 Tennessee State Tigers football team">Tennessee State</a> </td> <td>11–1</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td><b>W</b> <a href="/wiki/Pioneer_Bowl_(1971%E2%80%931982)" title="Pioneer Bowl (1971–1982)">Pioneer</a> </td></tr> <tr style="background:#fc6"> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1973_NCAA_Division_II_football_season" title="1973 NCAA Division II football season">1973</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1973_Tennessee_State_Tigers_football_team" title="1973 Tennessee State Tigers football team">Tennessee State</a> </td> <td>10–0</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1974_NCAA_Division_II_football_season" title="1974 NCAA Division II football season">1974</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1974_Tennessee_State_Tigers_football_team" title="1974 Tennessee State Tigers football team">Tennessee State</a> </td> <td>8–2</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1975_NCAA_Division_II_football_season" title="1975 NCAA Division II football season">1975</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1975_Tennessee_State_Tigers_football_team" title="1975 Tennessee State Tigers football team">Tennessee State</a> </td> <td>5–4</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1976_NCAA_Division_II_football_season" title="1976 NCAA Division II football season">1976</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1976_Tennessee_State_Tigers_football_team" title="1976 Tennessee State Tigers football team">Tennessee State</a> </td> <td>7–2–1</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background:#dddddd; border-bottom: 2px solid #aaaaaa;text-align:center;" colspan="9"><b><a href="/wiki/Tennessee_State_Tigers_football" title="Tennessee State Tigers football">Tennessee State Tigers</a></b> <i>(<a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_I_FBS_independent_schools" title="NCAA Division I FBS independent schools">NCAA Division I/I-A independent</a>)</i> <small>(1977–1980)</small> </td></tr> <tr> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1977_NCAA_Division_I_football_season" title="1977 NCAA Division I football season">1977</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1977_Tennessee_State_Tigers_football_team" title="1977 Tennessee State Tigers football team">Tennessee State</a> </td> <td>8–1–1</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1978_NCAA_Division_I-A_football_season" title="1978 NCAA Division I-A football season">1978</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1978_Tennessee_State_Tigers_football_team" title="1978 Tennessee State Tigers football team">Tennessee State</a> </td> <td>8–3</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr style="background:#fc6"> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1979_NCAA_Division_I-A_football_season" title="1979 NCAA Division I-A football season">1979</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1979_Tennessee_State_Tigers_football_team" title="1979 Tennessee State Tigers football team">Tennessee State</a> </td> <td>8–3</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1980_NCAA_Division_I-A_football_season" title="1980 NCAA Division I-A football season">1980</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1980_Tennessee_State_Tigers_football_team" title="1980 Tennessee State Tigers football team">Tennessee State</a> </td> <td>9–1</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background:#dddddd; border-bottom: 2px solid #aaaaaa;text-align:center;" colspan="9"><b><a href="/wiki/Tennessee_State_Tigers_football" title="Tennessee State Tigers football">Tennessee State Tigers</a></b> <i>(<a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_I_FCS_independent_schools" title="NCAA Division I FCS independent schools">NCAA Division I-AA independent</a>)</i> <small>(1981–1983)</small> </td></tr> <tr> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1981_NCAA_Division_I-AA_football_season" title="1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season">1981</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1981_Tennessee_State_Tigers_football_team" title="1981 Tennessee State Tigers football team">Tennessee State</a> </td> <td>9–2</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td><b>L</b> <a href="/wiki/1981_NCAA_Division_I-AA_football_season#Postseason" title="1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season">NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal</a> </td></tr> <tr style="background:#fc6"> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1982_NCAA_Division_I-AA_football_season" title="1982 NCAA Division I-AA football season">1982</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1982_Tennessee_State_Tigers_football_team" title="1982 Tennessee State Tigers football team">Tennessee State</a> </td> <td>10–1–1</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td><b>L</b> <a href="/wiki/1982_NCAA_Division_I-AA_football_season#Postseason" title="1982 NCAA Division I-AA football season">NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td scope="row"><a href="/wiki/1983_NCAA_Division_I-AA_football_season" title="1983 NCAA Division I-AA football season">1983</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/1983_Tennessee_State_Tigers_football_team" title="1983 Tennessee State Tigers football team">Tennessee State</a> </td> <td>8–2–1</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr style="background:#fafafa; border-top: 2px solid #aaaaaa;"> <td colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" scope="row"><b>Tennessee A&I / State:</b> </td> <td>172–33–7</td> <td>11–0–1</td> <td colspan="5"> </td></tr> <tr style="background:#dddddd"> <td colspan="2" scope="row" style="text-align:center"><b>Total:</b></td> <td>235–70–12</td> <td colspan="7"> </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="9"><small><span style="background-color:#ffcc66; width:50px; border:1px solid #000000">     </span> National championship   <span style="background-color:#ffff99; width:50px; border:1px solid #000000">     </span> Conference title   <span style="background-color:#bbffff; width:50px; border:1px solid #000000">     </span> Conference division title or championship game berth</small> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=John_Merritt_(American_football)&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_college_football_career_coaching_wins_leaders" title="List of college football career coaching wins leaders">List of college football career coaching wins leaders</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=John_Merritt_(American_football)&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_iaa/ohiovalley/tennessee_state/coaching_records.php">Tennessee State University coaching records</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140728102840/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_iaa/ohiovalley/tennessee_state/coaching_records.php">Archived</a> July 28, 2014, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal/129571558/">"Death ends long fight by Merritt"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_Commercial_Appeal" title="The Commercial Appeal">The Commercial Appeal</a></i>. <a href="/wiki/Memphis,_Tennessee" title="Memphis, Tennessee">Memphis, Tennessee</a>. December 15, 1983. p. D1<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">August 6,</span> 2023</span> – via <a href="/wiki/Newspapers.com" class="mw-redirect" title="Newspapers.com">Newspapers.com</a> <span style="position:relative; top: -2px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/Open_access" title="open access publication – free to read"><img alt="Open access icon" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Open_Access_logo_PLoS_transparent.svg/9px-Open_Access_logo_PLoS_transparent.svg.png" decoding="async" width="9" height="14" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Open_Access_logo_PLoS_transparent.svg/14px-Open_Access_logo_PLoS_transparent.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Open_Access_logo_PLoS_transparent.svg/18px-Open_Access_logo_PLoS_transparent.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="640" data-file-height="1000" /></a></span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Commercial+Appeal&rft.atitle=Death+ends+long+fight+by+Merritt&rft.pages=D1&rft.date=1983-12-15&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newspapers.com%2Farticle%2Fthe-commercial-appeal%2F129571558%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AJohn+Merritt+%28American+football%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal/129571620/">"Recollections are tribute to Merritt (continued)"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_Commercial_Appeal" title="The Commercial Appeal">The Commercial Appeal</a></i>. <a href="/wiki/Memphis,_Tennessee" title="Memphis, Tennessee">Memphis, Tennessee</a>. December 15, 1983. p. D6<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">August 6,</span> 2023</span> – via <a href="/wiki/Newspapers.com" class="mw-redirect" title="Newspapers.com">Newspapers.com</a> <span style="position:relative; top: -2px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/Open_access" title="open access publication – free to read"><img alt="Open access icon" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Open_Access_logo_PLoS_transparent.svg/9px-Open_Access_logo_PLoS_transparent.svg.png" decoding="async" width="9" height="14" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Open_Access_logo_PLoS_transparent.svg/14px-Open_Access_logo_PLoS_transparent.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Open_Access_logo_PLoS_transparent.svg/18px-Open_Access_logo_PLoS_transparent.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="640" data-file-height="1000" /></a></span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Commercial+Appeal&rft.atitle=Recollections+are+tribute+to+Merritt+%28continued%29&rft.pages=D6&rft.date=1983-12-15&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newspapers.com%2Farticle%2Fthe-commercial-appeal%2F129571620%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AJohn+Merritt+%28American+football%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=John_Merritt_(American_football)&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=1907">John Merritt</a> at the <a href="/wiki/College_Football_Hall_of_Fame" title="College Football Hall of Fame">College Football Hall of Fame</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9975">John Merritt</a> at <a href="/wiki/Find_a_Grave" title="Find a Grave">Find a Grave</a></li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist 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style="color:white">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Jackson_State_Tigers_football_coach_navbox" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Jackson State Tigers football coach navbox"><abbr title="Edit this template" style="color:white">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Jackson_State_Tigers_head_football_coaches" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Jackson_State_Tigers_football" title="Jackson State Tigers football"><span style="color:white">Jackson State Tigers head football coaches</span></a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/w/index.php?title=John_R._Pinkett&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="John R. Pinkett (page does not exist)">John R. Pinkett</a> (1911–1912)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Jubie_Bragg" title="Jubie Bragg">Jubie Bragg</a> (1913)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><i>No team</i> (1914–1919)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Earnest_Richards&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Earnest Richards (page does not exist)">Earnest Richards</a> (1920)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><i>No team</i> (1921–1922)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Earnest_Richards&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Earnest Richards (page does not exist)">Earnest Richards</a> (1923)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><i>No team</i> (1924)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Belford_Lawson_Jr." title="Belford Lawson Jr.">Belford Lawson Jr.</a> (1925–1926)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><i>No team</i> (1927)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Belford_Lawson_Jr." title="Belford Lawson Jr.">Belford Lawson Jr.</a> (1928)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Charles_Clark_(American_football)&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Charles Clark (American football) (page does not exist)">Charles Clark</a> (1929–1936)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/w/index.php?title=John_H._Young&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="John H. Young (page does not exist)">John H. Young</a> (1937–1939)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><i>No team</i> (1940–1945)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/T._B._Ellis" title="T. B. Ellis">T. B. Ellis</a> (1946–1951)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a class="mw-selflink selflink">John Merritt</a> (1952–1962)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Edward_Clemons" title="Edward Clemons">Edward Clemons</a> (1963)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Rod_Paige" title="Rod Paige">Rod Paige</a> (1964–1968)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Ulysses_S._McPherson" title="Ulysses S. McPherson">Ulysses S. McPherson</a> (1969–1970)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Robert_Hill_(coach)" title="Robert Hill (coach)">Robert Hill</a> (1971–1976)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/W._C._Gorden" title="W. C. Gorden">W. C. Gorden</a> (1976–1991)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/James_Carson_(American_football)" title="James Carson (American football)">James Carson</a> (1992–1998)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Judge_Hughes" title="Judge Hughes">Judge Hughes</a> (1999–2002)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/James_Bell_(American_football)" title="James Bell (American football)">James Bell</a> (2003–2005)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Daryl_Jones_(American_football_coach)&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Daryl Jones (American football coach) (page does not exist)">Daryl Jones</a> # (2005)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Rick_Comegy" title="Rick Comegy">Rick Comegy</a> (2006–2013)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Harold_Jackson_(American_football)" title="Harold Jackson (American football)">Harold Jackson</a> (2014–2015)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Derrick_McCall" title="Derrick McCall">Derrick McCall</a> # (2015)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Tony_Hughes_(American_football)" title="Tony Hughes (American football)">Tony Hughes</a> (2016–2018)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/John_Hendrick_(American_football)" title="John Hendrick (American football)">John Hendrick</a> (2018–2019)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Deion_Sanders" title="Deion Sanders">Deion Sanders</a> (2020–2022)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/T._C._Taylor" title="T. C. Taylor">T. C. Taylor</a> (2023– )</span></li></ul> <p><i># denotes interim head coach</i> </p> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Tennessee_State_Tigers_head_football_coaches" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background-color:#171796;color:white;box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #FF0504, inset -2px -2px 0 #FF0504;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Tennessee_State_Tigers_football_coach_navbox" title="Template:Tennessee State Tigers football coach navbox"><abbr title="View this template" style="color:white">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Tennessee_State_Tigers_football_coach_navbox" title="Template talk:Tennessee State Tigers football coach navbox"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style="color:white">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Tennessee_State_Tigers_football_coach_navbox" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Tennessee State Tigers football coach navbox"><abbr title="Edit this template" style="color:white">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Tennessee_State_Tigers_head_football_coaches" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Tennessee_State_Tigers_football" title="Tennessee State Tigers football"><span style="color:white">Tennessee State Tigers head football coaches</span></a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Buck_Hunt" title="Buck Hunt">Buck Hunt</a> (1916)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><i>No team</i> (1917–1921)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Joe_E._Scruggs" title="Joe E. Scruggs">Joe E. Scruggs</a> (1922–1924)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/George_Davenport_(American_football)" title="George Davenport (American football)">George Davenport</a> (1925–1926)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Caesar_Felton_Gayles" title="Caesar Felton Gayles">Caesar Felton Gayles</a> (1927)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Harry_Long" title="Harry Long">Harry Long</a> (1928)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Alton_Jackson" title="Alton Jackson">Alton Jackson</a> (1929)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/T._D._Upshaw" title="T. D. Upshaw">T. D. Upshaw</a> (1930–1931)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><i>Unknown</i> (1932)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Walter_S._Davis" title="Walter S. Davis">Walter S. Davis</a> (1933–1936)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Reuben_A._Munday" title="Reuben A. Munday">Reuben A. Munday</a> (1937–1938)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Lawrence_Simmons" title="Lawrence Simmons">Lawrence Simmons</a> (1939)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><i>No team</i> (1940–1943)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Henry_Kean" title="Henry Kean">Henry Kean</a> (1944–1954)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Howard_C._Gentry" title="Howard C. Gentry">Howard C. Gentry</a> (1955–1960)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Lawrence_Simmons" title="Lawrence Simmons">Lawrence Simmons</a> (1961–1962)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a class="mw-selflink selflink">John Merritt</a> (1963–1983)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/William_A._Thomas" title="William A. Thomas">William A. Thomas</a> (1984–1988)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Joe_Gilliam_Sr." title="Joe Gilliam Sr.">Joe Gilliam Sr.</a> (1989–1992)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Bill_Davis_(coach)" title="Bill Davis (coach)">Bill Davis</a> (1993–1995)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/L._C._Cole" title="L. C. Cole">L. C. Cole</a> (1996–1999)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/James_Reese_(American_football)" title="James Reese (American football)">James Reese</a> (2000–2004)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/James_Webster_(American_football)" title="James Webster (American football)">James Webster</a> (2005–2009)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Rod_Reed" title="Rod Reed">Rod Reed</a> (2010–2020)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Eddie_George" title="Eddie George">Eddie George</a> (2021– )</span></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Amos_Alonzo_Stagg_Award_winners" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Amos_Alonzo_Stagg_Award" title="Template:Amos Alonzo Stagg Award"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Amos_Alonzo_Stagg_Award" title="Template talk:Amos Alonzo Stagg Award"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Amos_Alonzo_Stagg_Award" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Amos Alonzo Stagg Award"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Amos_Alonzo_Stagg_Award_winners" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Amos_Alonzo_Stagg_Award" title="Amos Alonzo Stagg Award">Amos Alonzo Stagg Award</a> winners</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><span class="nowrap">1940: <a href="/w/index.php?title=Donald_Herring_Jr.&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Donald Herring Jr. (page does not exist)">Herring Jr.</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1941: <a href="/wiki/Butch_Cowell" title="Butch Cowell">Cowell</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1942–1945 <i>No award given</i> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1946: <a href="/wiki/Grantland_Rice" title="Grantland Rice">Rice</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1947: <a href="/wiki/William_Alexander_(American_football)" title="William Alexander (American football)">Alexander</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1948: <a href="/wiki/Gil_Dobie" title="Gil Dobie">Dobie</a>, <a href="/wiki/Pop_Warner" title="Pop Warner">Warner</a> & <a href="/wiki/Robert_Zuppke" title="Robert Zuppke">Zuppke</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1949: <a href="/wiki/Dick_Harlow" title="Dick Harlow">Harlow</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1950 <i>No award given</i> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1951: <a href="/wiki/Tuss_McLaughry" title="Tuss McLaughry">McLaughry</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1952: <a href="/wiki/Bo_McMillin" title="Bo McMillin">McMillin</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1953: <a href="/wiki/Lou_Little" title="Lou Little">Little</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1954: <a href="/wiki/Dana_X._Bible" title="Dana X. Bible">Bible</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1955: <a href="/w/index.php?title=Joseph_J._Tomlin&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Joseph J. Tomlin (page does not exist)">Tomlin</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1956 <i>No award given</i> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1957: <a href="/wiki/Robert_Neyland" title="Robert Neyland">Neyland</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1958: <a href="/wiki/Bernie_Bierman" title="Bernie Bierman">Bierman</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1959: <a href="/wiki/John_Wilce" title="John Wilce">Wilce</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1960: <a href="/wiki/Harvey_Harman" title="Harvey Harman">Harman</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1961: <a href="/wiki/Ray_Eliot" title="Ray Eliot">Eliot</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1962: <a href="/wiki/Tad_Wieman" title="Tad Wieman">Wieman</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1963: <a href="/wiki/Andrew_Kerr" title="Andrew Kerr">Kerr</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1964: <a href="/wiki/Don_Faurot" title="Don Faurot">Faurot</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1965: <a href="/wiki/Harry_Stuhldreher" title="Harry Stuhldreher">Stuhldreher</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1966: <a href="/wiki/Bernie_Moore" title="Bernie Moore">Moore</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1967: <a href="/wiki/Jess_Neely" title="Jess Neely">Neely</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1968: <a href="/wiki/Abe_Martin_(Texas_coach)" title="Abe Martin (Texas coach)">Martin</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1969: <a href="/wiki/Rip_Engle" title="Rip Engle">Engle</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1970: <a href="/wiki/Pappy_Waldorf" title="Pappy Waldorf">Waldorf</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1971: <a href="/wiki/Bill_Murray_(American_football_coach)" title="Bill Murray (American football coach)">Murray</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1972: <a href="/wiki/Jack_Curtice" title="Jack Curtice">Curtice</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1973: <a href="/wiki/Lloyd_Jordan" title="Lloyd Jordan">Jordan</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1974: <a href="/wiki/Jake_Gaither" title="Jake Gaither">Gaither</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1975: <a href="/wiki/Gerald_B._Zornow" title="Gerald B. Zornow">Zornow</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1976 <i>No award given</i> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1977: <a href="/wiki/Ben_Schwartzwalder" title="Ben Schwartzwalder">Schwartzwalder</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1978: <a href="/wiki/Tom_Hamilton_(American_football)" title="Tom Hamilton (American football)">Hamilton</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1979: <a href="/wiki/Fritz_Crisler" title="Fritz Crisler">Crisler</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1980 <i>No award given</i> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1981: <a href="/wiki/Fred_Russell" title="Fred Russell">Russell</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1982: <a href="/wiki/Eddie_Robinson_(American_football_coach)" title="Eddie Robinson (American football coach)">Robinson</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1983: <a href="/wiki/Bear_Bryant" title="Bear Bryant">Bryant</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1984: <a href="/wiki/Bud_Wilkinson" title="Bud Wilkinson">Wilkinson</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1985: <a href="/wiki/Duffy_Daugherty" title="Duffy Daugherty">Daugherty</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1986: <a href="/wiki/Woody_Hayes" title="Woody Hayes">Hayes</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1987: <a href="/w/index.php?title=Field_Scovell&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Field Scovell (page does not exist)">Scovell</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1988: <a href="/wiki/Herb_McCracken" title="Herb McCracken">McCracken</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1989: <a href="/wiki/David_M._Nelson" title="David M. Nelson">Nelson</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1990: <a href="/wiki/Len_Casanova" title="Len Casanova">Casanova</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1991: <a href="/wiki/Bob_Blackman_(American_football)" title="Bob Blackman (American football)">Blackman</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1992: <a href="/wiki/Charles_McClendon" title="Charles McClendon">McClendon</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1993: <a href="/wiki/Keith_Jackson" title="Keith Jackson">Jackson</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1994: <a href="/wiki/Bob_Devaney" title="Bob Devaney">Devaney</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1995: <a class="mw-selflink selflink">Merritt</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1996: <a href="/wiki/Chuck_Neinas" title="Chuck Neinas">Neinas</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1997: <a href="/wiki/Ara_Parseghian" title="Ara Parseghian">Parseghian</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1998: <a href="/wiki/Bob_Reade" title="Bob Reade">Reade</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">1999: <a href="/wiki/Bo_Schembechler" title="Bo Schembechler">Schembechler</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2000: <a href="/wiki/Tom_Osborne" title="Tom Osborne">Osborne</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2001: <a href="/wiki/Vince_Dooley" title="Vince Dooley">Dooley</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2002: <a href="/wiki/Joe_Paterno" title="Joe Paterno">Paterno</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2003: <a href="/wiki/LaVell_Edwards" title="LaVell Edwards">Edwards</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2004: <a href="/wiki/Ron_Schipper" title="Ron Schipper">Schipper</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2005: <a href="/wiki/Hayden_Fry" title="Hayden Fry">Fry</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2006: <a href="/wiki/Grant_Teaff" title="Grant Teaff">Teaff</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2007: <a href="/wiki/Bill_Curry" title="Bill Curry">Curry</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2008: <a href="/wiki/Bill_Walsh_(American_football_coach)" class="mw-redirect" title="Bill Walsh (American football coach)">Walsh</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2009: <a href="/wiki/John_Gagliardi" title="John Gagliardi">Gagliardi</a> </span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2010: <a href="/wiki/Darrell_Royal" title="Darrell Royal">Royal</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2011: <a href="/wiki/Bobby_Bowden" title="Bobby Bowden">Bowden</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2012: <a href="/wiki/Fisher_DeBerry" title="Fisher DeBerry">DeBerry</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2013: <a href="/wiki/Frosty_Westering" title="Frosty Westering">Westering</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2014: <a href="/wiki/R._C._Slocum" title="R. C. Slocum">Slocum</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2015: <a href="/wiki/Ken_Hatfield" title="Ken Hatfield">Hatfield</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2016: <a href="/wiki/John_Cooper_(American_football)" title="John Cooper (American football)">Cooper</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2017: <a href="/wiki/Don_Nehlen" title="Don Nehlen">Nehlen</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2018: <a href="/wiki/Frank_Broyles" title="Frank Broyles">Broyles</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2019: <a href="/wiki/Marv_Levy" title="Marv Levy">Levy</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2020: <a href="/wiki/Dick_Tomey" title="Dick Tomey">Tomey</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2021: <i>No award given</i></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2022: <a href="/wiki/Mel_Tjeerdsma" title="Mel Tjeerdsma">Tjeerdsma</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2023: <a href="/wiki/Roy_Kidd" title="Roy Kidd">Kidd</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2024: <a href="/wiki/Larry_Kehres" title="Larry Kehres">Kehres</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">2025: <a href="/wiki/Bob_Ford_(American_football)" title="Bob Ford (American football)">Ford</a></span></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?useformat=desktop&type=1x1&usesul3=0" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; 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