4 legendary athletes building a second legacy as HBCU coaches

By Dante Pryor | Feb 28, 2022

TALLAHASSEE, FL - CIRCA 1988: Defensive back Deion Sanders #2 of the Florida State Seminoles winner of the 1988 Jim Thorpe Award, poses with the trophy circa 1988 at Doak Campbell Stadium at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

1 of 5

These four former great players are building a second legacy as coaches of HBCU sports programs.

HBCUs have been a haven for great black athletes to hone their craft and extend their careers as winning coaches. Legendary head coach Rod Broadway was a great football player in his own right in North Carolina before spending 22 years as a college assistant.

When there was no opportunity for him at the Division-I level for him as a head coach, Broadway went to North Carolina Central and rebuilt that program, winning two CIAA conference titles. Broadway would be the only coach to win three Black National Titles with three different teams.

Heisman Trophy winner and Tennessee Titan legend Eddie George took over as head football coach at Tennessee State and football is not the only sport where former players have found success.

Basketball great Reggie Theus was a two-time all-star with the Chicago Bulls and coached the Sacramento Kings and the New Mexico State Aggies. Currently, Theus is the head coach and athletic director at Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Here is a closer look at four former professional standouts who are carving out a second legacy as HBCU head coaches.

Don’t miss the all-new CW original series All-American: Homecoming, Mondays at 9/8 central on The CW or stream free the next day on the CW App.

Home/College Football