HBCU Legends

Southern Moves On From Dooley, Ready For New Coach

Southern University abruptly ends Eric Dooley's tenure as head football coach, and prepares for the 50th annual installment of the Bayou Classic.
Kyle T. Mosley|
Southern Moves On From Dooley, Ready For New Coach
Southern Moves On From Dooley, Ready For New Coach

Last season, Southern won the 2022 SWAC West title with Coach Eric Dooley. During the summer, the conference's coaches, athletic directors, and SIDs announced at SWAC Media Day that Southern University was their pick to win the SWAC West title. However, three months later, Southern's athletic director, Roman Banks, officially announced the firing of head football coach Eric Dooley on Tuesday, Nov. 14.  

Wednesday, he introduced coach Terrence Graves as the interim head coach, and Sean Wallace will serve as acting head coach at the 50th Annual Bayou Classic. It was a classy move by AD Banks to have Wallace be the acting head coach since he's still undergoing treatments for Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

The fans' and media's relationship with Coach Dooley was tense. Banks felt Dooley did not take accountability for the problems with his football program by "still communicating with your fan base...and sometimes we have to accept responsibility," he commented.

Banks revealed what triggered the immediate change was a one-on-one conversation with Coach Dooley early Tuesday. As the search begins for the new head coach of the storied football program, Banks provided insight on whether he would consider candidates outside of the Southern family and SWAC. "The answer to the question is yes," Banks noted. "This program is going to look for the best fit for this particular situation and a person that we that we think that's going to move us." He continued, "We're not going to limit ourselves to just saying that we're hiring someone from an HBCU, from SWAC, or anything. We're going to look as wide as we can look, and as high as we can look, and come up with the right guy for this job."

AD Banks mentioned the search for the next head coach will be a "focus search" and will begin identifying the "top five" candidates for interviews. Also, he did say there were people on the current staff who are "capable" of consideration for the job. The person "doesn't have to have a history with Southern. I think the person needs to understand the job. I think that's the most important part...understands the job and eager for the challenge," Banks remarked to reporters.

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Kyle T. Mosley
KYLE T. MOSLEY

I am Kyle T. Mosley, the Founder, Managing Editor, and Chief Reporter for the HBCU Legends. Former founder and publisher of the Saints News Network, and Pelicans Scoop on SI since October 2019.  Morehouse Alum, McDonogh #35 Roneagles (NOLA), Drum Major of the Tenacious Four.  My Father, Mother, Grandmother, Aunts and Uncles were HBCU graduates! Host of "Blow the Whistle" HBCU Legends, "The Quad" with Coach Steward, and "Bayou Blitz" Podcasts. Radio/Media Appearances:  WWL AM/FM Radio in New Orleans (Mike Detillier/Bobby Hebert),  KCOH AM 1230 in Houston (Ralph Cooper), WBOK AM in New Orleans (Reggie Flood/Ro Brown), and 103.7FM "The Game" (Jordy Hultberg/Clint Domingue), College Kickoff Unlimited (Emory Hunt), Jeff Lightsly Show, and Offscript TV on YouTube. Television Appearance: Fox26 in Houston on The Isiah Carey Factor, College Kickoff Unlimited (Emory Hunt). My Notable Interviews:  Byron Allen (Media Mogul), Deion Sanders (Collegiate Head Coach), Drew Brees (Former NFL QB), Mark Ingram (NFL RB), Terron Armstead (NFL OL), Jameis Winston (NFL QB), Cam Newton (NFL QB), Cam Jordan (NFL), Demario Davis (NFL), Allan Houston (NBA All-Star), Deuce McAllister (Former NFL RB), Chennis Berry (Collegiate Head Coach), Johnny Jones (Collegiate Head Coach), Tomekia Reed (Women's Basketball Coach), Tremaine Jackson (Collegiate Head Coach), Taylor Rooks (NBA Reporter), Swin Cash (Former VP of Basketball - New Orleans Pelicans), Demario and Tamala Davis (NFL Player), Jerry Rice (Hall of Famer), Doug Williams (HBCU & NFL Legend), Emmitt Smith (Hall of Famer), James "Shack" Harris (HBCU & NFL Legend), Cris Carter (Hall of Famer), Solomon Wilcots (SiriusXM NFL Host), Steve Wyche (NFL Network), Jim Trotter (NFL Network), Travis Williams (Founder of HBCU All-Stars, LLC), Malcolm Jenkins (NFL Player), Willie Roaf (NFL Hall of Fame), Jim Everett (Former NFL Player), Quinn Early (Former NFL Player), Dr. Reef (NFL Players' Trainer Specialist), Nataria Holloway (VP of the NFL). I am building a new team of journalists, podcasters, videographers, and interns.  For media requests, interviews, or interest in joining HBCU Legends, please contact me at kmosley@hbcusi.com. Follow me:

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