20 Facts About Willie Jeffries

Willie E Jeffries was born on January 4,1937 and is a former American football player and coach.

Willie Jeffries served as the head football coach at South Carolina State University for 19 seasons in two stints, five seasons at Wichita State University, and five seasons at Howard University.

Willie Jeffries was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

Willie Jeffries grew up in South Carolina, where he attended the segregated Sims High School in Union, South Carolina.

Willie Jeffries played football there for coach James F Moorer, who went on a record-setting win streak.

Willie Jeffries started his coaching career in 1960 as an assistant at Barr Street High School in Lancaster, South Carolina.

Players that Willie Jeffries coached at South Carolina State include College Football Hall of Famers Harry Carson and Donnie Shell as well as Robert Porcher, Orlando Brown Sr.

In 2010, Willie Jeffries was named Head Football Coach Emeritus by the South Carolina State University Board of Trustees.

Willie Jeffries can help us frame relationships that will increase support for athletics.

Willie Jeffries 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.

When Willie Jeffries took over Wichita State in 1979, he became the first African American head coach of a Division I-A football program at a predominantly white school.

Willie Jeffries is the only man to coach against both Eddie Robinson of Grambling State and Bear Bryant of Alabama.

Willie Jeffries was the 32nd head football coach Wichita State for five seasons from 1979 until 1983.

The players whom Willie Jeffries coached at Wichita State include: Anthony Jones, Jumpy Geathers, and Prince McJunkins.

Willie Jeffries led the Howard Bison football team to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in 1987 this title was forfeited along with all victories for the season when it was learned that Jeffries had used up to 30 ineligible players on his team.

The Bison players who played under Willie Jeffries who went on to be drafted into the NFL were tight end Jimmie Johnson, Harvey Reed, Troy Kyles, Derrick Faison, David Westbrook, Sean Vanhorse, Brian Taltoan, Gary Willingham, John Javis, James Moses and Tim Watson.

Willie Jeffries was awarded the companion honor of the Order of the Silver Crescent by Governor Jim Hodges on October 13,2001.

On June 20,2009, Willie Jeffries was inducted into the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame for his color barrier breaking run as head coach of Wichita State.

Willie E Jeffries Field was unveiled during halftime of the November 5,2010 Howard at South Carolina State football game.

Willie Jeffries has been a friend of Herman Boone dating back to when the two were assistant coaches in North Carolina.