Fansided

4 legendary athletes building a second legacy as HBCU coaches

By Dante Pryor

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)
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) /
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On Saturday, Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders yells at Jackson State safety Shilo Sanders (21) on the sideline in the Southern Heritage Classic between Tennessee State University and Jackson State University at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tenn., September 11, 2021.Hot Photos Of The Year 2021 60
On Saturday, Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders yells at Jackson State safety Shilo Sanders (21) on the sideline in the Southern Heritage Classic between Tennessee State University and Jackson State University at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tenn., September 11, 2021.Hot Photos Of The Year 2021 60 /

Deion Sanders, Head Coach: Jackson State University

Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders has always wanted to be a head coach. Former teammates Ray Lewis and Rod Woodson did not take him seriously when he said this while playing for the Baltimore Ravens.

It is not hard to brush it off in their defense. How many athletes as famous and wealthy become head coaches? Michael Jordan never thought about coaching and Sanders was nearly as famous as MJ at the peak of his career.

The joke is on them. After retiring from football as arguably the most outstanding defensive back to ever play the game, Sanders began a journey leading to Jackson State University.

Sanders began coaching at Prime Prep Academy and Triple-A Academy in Florida. Coach Prime Time became offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian Highschool, coaching his sons, Shilo and Shedeur and winning a couple of titles.

When Sanders became the head coach of Jackson State, he was convinced he could lure some of the top talents in the country to Jackson, Mississippi. So far, that mission has been accomplished. The Tigers had the best recruiting class in FCS and HBCU history in 2021, and Sanders flipped Travis Hunter from Florida State this past cycle.

Sanders is 15-5 at Jackson State, winning the SWAC title, and earning a berth in the Celebration Bowl this past season.

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