New coach at Delaware State

[Libertine]

Delaware State has reportedly hired former NFL player DeSean Jackson -- yes, that DeSean Jackson -- as their new Head Coach. Not mentioned in the ESPN article is that, unlike an increasing number of his HBCU peers, Jackson was not simply handed the reins of a D1 program while being a complete amateur to the profession. He has, under his belt, one whole season's worth of experience as the offensive coordinator at Woodrow Wilson HS in Long Beach, CA.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/43172244/delaware-state-finalizing-deal-hire-desean-jackson-head-coach

[dbackjon]

Good for him

[caribbeanhen]

if he can get enough talent he will look like a genius

[CopperCat]

DSU hasn’t had a winning season in a VERY long time to my recollection.

Dover isn’t exactly a football hotbed. An entry level job for sure. But there are challenges at DSU that make the hill climb that much steeper.

[NY Crusader 2010]

DSU is one of the 5 toughest jobs in FCS IMO.

Last time they were relevant to my recollection was 2007 when they won the MEAC and played Delaware in the first round of the playoffs. The game was very much hyped up because it was the first meeting of the two in-state opponents in like 70 years. The media gave UD a whole bunch of flak for continuing their I-AA/D-II crossover rivalry game with West Chester of the PSAC while refusing to schedule Delaware State. UD won the playoff game like 49-7 en route to a national runner-up finish. Not long after, the West Chester series was tabled permanently and Delaware and Delaware State did get a series on the books. Delaware won them all in blowout fashion. Not sure if they were all at "The Tub" or if the Blue Hens ever made a visit to Dover.

[caribbeanhen]

DSU is one of the 5 toughest jobs in FCS IMO.

Last time they were relevant to my recollection was 2007 when they won the MEAC and played Delaware in the first round of the playoffs. The game was very much hyped up because it was the first meeting of the two in-state opponents in like 70 years. The media gave UD a whole bunch of flak for continuing their I-AA/D-II crossover rivalry game with West Chester of the PSAC while refusing to schedule Delaware State. UD won the playoff game like 49-7 en route to a national runner-up finish. Not long after, the West Chester series was tabled permanently and Delaware and Delaware State did get a series on the books. Delaware won them all in blowout fashion. Not sure if they were all at "The Tub" or if the Blue Hens ever made a visit to Dover.

Blue Hens played Del St in Dover one time.

Good move by Delaware State as they needed to try something bold

[KnightoftheRedFlash]

Desperation hire.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

I wish him well, unless I learn of him starting a fraud school defrauding hundreds of families while making a mockery of education.

[Libertine]

Good move by Delaware State as they needed to try something bold

No hire that consists of a multi-million dollar organization hiring a complete amateur to be in charge of one of its largest and most public-facing departments can be considered at face value to be a "good hire". DSU -- just like NSU with Mike Vick, B-C with Ed Reed, TN St with Eddie George, and the Indianapolis Colts with Jeff Saturday -- are taking a total gamble on their coaching hire for no better qualifying reason than because someone is famous and said they were interested in the job. I've said it before in another thread but I can't think of a faster way to tell your players that their development and growth as players and as men doesn't matter to you than to hire an absolute novice to coach them.

[DFW HOYA]

No hire that consists of a multi-million dollar organization hiring a complete amateur to be in charge of one of its largest and most public-facing departments can be considered at face value to be a "good hire". DSU -- just like NSU with Mike Vick, B-C with Ed Reed, TN St with Eddie George, and the Indianapolis Colts with Jeff Saturday -- are taking a total gamble on their coaching hire for no better qualifying reason than because someone is famous and said they were interested in the job. I've said it before in another thread but I can't think of a faster way to tell your players that their development and growth as players and as men doesn't matter to you than to hire an absolute novice to coach them.

It's an attention-getting move. A high school OC in Long Beach isn't going to immediately translate to MEAC football. Sure, maybe Jackson can line up a game at Temple for the Philadelphia audience, or a HBCU "classic" game on the west coast. Otherwise, Del State will have to start all over when it doesn't work out.

[Libertine]

It's an attention-getting move.

Sure, that's exactly what it is. But attention is a drug, it hits and it fades. This is yet another university administration mistaking publicity for prominence. Do you want to win a press conference or do you want to win championships? Do you want to take a grinning selfie with a famous person or do you want your picture taken with a trophy? Do you want to become a place that builds young men into competitors or are you satisfied with the fact that those young men -- or, at least, the declining number of young men who remember who DeSean Jackson is -- might have finally heard of you?

Delaware State's program is and has been a joke and, at this point, all they're drawing attention to is the sort of decision making which enables exactly why that's been the case. Meanwhile, Prairie View put on a master class in finding a candidate in Tremaine Jackson. They identified a proven winner at a lower level who's been at or near the pinnacle of his division, meaning he knows what it takes to get there and to get back there again. He's a coach that PV can afford, they can afford to support and, above all, he's got an actual resume. I don't know Jackson but that's the type of coach who is hungry to succeed at the FCS level and who can elevate your program over the long term, not just for the twenty minutes of the introductory press conference. The really stupid thing is that the same kind of candidates were and are still available to DSU, even if they want to restrict themselves to HBCU's. Sam Shade has engineered a remarkable turnaround at Miles, earning a seed in the D2 playoffs. Similarly, Alvin Parker is an HBC lifer and has yet to have a losing season at Virginia Union. That's two coaches better suited and better qualified for the DSU head coaching job than DeSean Jackson and I found their names in five minutes. DSU has had weeks to get this right and chose not to, grasping at the nearest shiny object instead.

This hire by DSU is exactly as described, an attention grab and nothing more.

[caribbeanhen]

No hire that consists of a multi-million dollar organization hiring a complete amateur to be in charge of one of its largest and most public-facing departments can be considered at face value to be a "good hire". DSU -- just like NSU with Mike Vick, B-C with Ed Reed, TN St with Eddie George, and the Indianapolis Colts with Jeff Saturday -- are taking a total gamble on their coaching hire for no better qualifying reason than because someone is famous and said they were interested in the job. I've said it before in another thread but I can't think of a faster way to tell your players that their development and growth as players and as men doesn't matter to you than to hire an absolute novice to coach them.

It's about recruiting, upgrading the talent, starting to win some games and building a fan base. Jackson will have a tough road to travel for sure.

no doubt he better have some good assistants, but this was a good move at the moment for Del State. No run of the mill hire would be able to change anything at Del State.

You don't need to be a college football coach to know how to develop and grow young men. Any good father can do it and who's to say Jackson won't be better at that than what they had?

And besides, the development and growth aspect of a coach and a college football program is battling The Portal right now...

I'm not saying he will be successful at Del St, but as bad as they have been they needed to try something bold.

They should follow up the hire with a football GM type, that knows how to work the portal and navigate the NCAA rulebook

[WestCoastAggie]

I wish him well, unless I learn of him starting a fraud school defrauding hundreds of families while making a mockery of education.

I see what you did there. LOL

[WestCoastAggie]

Sure, that's exactly what it is. But attention is a drug, it hits and it fades. This is yet another university administration mistaking publicity for prominence. Do you want to win a press conference or do you want to win championships? Do you want to take a grinning selfie with a famous person or do you want your picture taken with a trophy? Do you want to become a place that builds young men into competitors or are you satisfied with the fact that those young men -- or, at least, the declining number of young men who remember who DeSean Jackson is -- might have finally heard of you?

Delaware State's program is and has been a joke and, at this point, all they're drawing attention to is the sort of decision making which enables exactly why that's been the case. Meanwhile, Prairie View put on a master class in finding a candidate in Tremaine Jackson. They identified a proven winner at a lower level who's been at or near the pinnacle of his division, meaning he knows what it takes to get there and to get back there again. He's a coach that PV can afford, they can afford to support and, above all, he's got an actual resume. I don't know Jackson but that's the type of coach who is hungry to succeed at the FCS level and who can elevate your program over the long term, not just for the twenty minutes of the introductory press conference. The really stupid thing is that the same kind of candidates were and are still available to DSU, even if they want to restrict themselves to HBCU's. Sam Shade has engineered a remarkable turnaround at Miles, earning a seed in the D2 playoffs. Similarly, Alvin Parker is an HBC lifer and has yet to have a losing season at Virginia Union. That's two coaches better suited and better qualified for the DSU head coaching job than DeSean Jackson and I found their names in five minutes. DSU has had weeks to get this right and chose not to, grasping at the nearest shiny object instead.

This hire by DSU is exactly as described, an attention grab and nothing more.

There was a quiet bidding war for Tremaine Jackson. A&T was carefully looking at him but Gibbs is the best fit for us. Either way, Coach Jackson will have PV in the Celebration Bowl ASAP.

[WestCoastAggie]

Also, this won't be the last "high profile" NFL retiree getting a call from an HBCU to coach their football team this cycle.

Looking at you, AAMU!

[POD Knows]

I wish him well, unless I learn of him starting a fraud school defrauding hundreds of families while making a mockery of education.I didn't know Laureate International Universities had football or is that the LIU I keep seeing in the FCS stuff. xnodx

[Libertine]

Also, this won't be the last "high profile" NFL retiree getting a call from an HBCU to coach their football team this cycle.

Looking at you, AAMU!

What could possibly go wrong? xrolleyesxxlolx

https://nypost.com/2023/01/21/ed-reed-out-at-bethune-cookman-after-25-days-blasts-school-in-rant/

[caribbeanhen]

https://hbcugameday.com/2025/01/13/desean-jackson-quickly-revamps-hbcu-roster-with-talent/

With a revamped roster and a fresh approach, Delaware State University is poised to turn heads in the MEAC this season (https://youtube.com/live/BeKAdL_x6HY). The combination of experienced transfers and high-caliber recruits like Robinson is a clear sign that the Hornets are ready to compete at a higher level. HBCU football fans will be watching closely as Delaware State’s new chapter unfolds.

[Ivytalk]

Del State has a photogenic, politically connected president in Tony Allen and a lot of ambition. With all due respect to him and to new coach Jackson, it will take a huge effort to position DSU into a regular MEAC contender, much less a national power. The school has inferior facilities and an indifferent fan base.