Post by Bornthrilla on Jun 18, 2009 12:39:12 GMT -5
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New A&M assistant no stranger to SWAC
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
By Reggie Benson
Times Sports Staff reggie.benson@htimes.com
John McKenzie had great success as a player in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
He starred at quarterback at Jackson State in the 1980s, leading the Tigers to three conference titles while throwing for more than 5,000 yards and 43 touchdowns en route to earning All-SWAC honors on two occasions. He later had success as a coach in the league, first at Alabama State - helping the Hornets not only win the SWAC, but also a black college national championship - and also was successful at his alma mater and Alcorn State.
So when he was let go at North Carolina A&T last season, McKenzie looked for an opportunity to return to the conference.
He found it at Alabama A&M, where he was recently named the Bulldogs' receivers coach. McKenzie replaces Roger Totten, who left to become an assistant at Alabama State in January.
"I'm familiar with the SWAC," McKenzie said Tuesday. "I played in the league and coached in the league. I know the players and the different areas. It's a little easier for me to adapt. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference was a great experience, but there's a different philosophy there as far as what they're trying to get done football-wise.
"In the SWAC, I'm a little more comfortable ... more at home. Things have worked out a little better in the SWAC for me and that's one of the reasons I wanted to get back in the league."
McKenzie started his coaching career at Alabama State under former coach Houston Markham and tutored Ricky Jones, one of the most dynamic quarterbacks ever to play in the league. The Hornets won the SWAC in 1991 and also claimed the black college national championship.
He left ASU to return to his alma mater and then spent a year at Fayetteville State before becoming the head coach at Delaware State from 1997-99. After that, McKenzie spent seven seasons as the offensive coordinator at Alcorn State and tutored quarterback Donald Carrie and current NFL wide receivers Charlie Spiller and Nate Hughes.
McKenzie applied for the A&M job and was hired after being fired at NCA&T.
"I knew the success that this staff had had," he said. "Being out of work, it was a great opportunity for me to come into a program that had had some success. Normally, I've gone to programs where we had to rebuild and start over and we've been able to turn programs around. That's not the case here. I'm looking forward to being here where the pieces are already in place.
"Coach (Anthony) Jones has had success everywhere he's been. Going against (defensive coordinator) Coach (Brawnski) Towns and the great defenses he presented was always a challenge. I knew if I could get with a good program like Alabama A&M, I would have a chance to be successful. In this profession, it's all about winning and rings and it's been a long time since I had a ring as a coach."
Jones was thrilled to be able to hire a coach of McKenzie's caliber.
"We lost a good coach in Roger, but we feel we have filled this position with a very capable and experienced coach in Coach McKenzie," he said. "We are excited to see his expertise in action on the field."
McKenzie also will monitor the team's academic progress, Jones said.
New A&M assistant no stranger to SWAC
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
By Reggie Benson
Times Sports Staff reggie.benson@htimes.com
John McKenzie had great success as a player in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
He starred at quarterback at Jackson State in the 1980s, leading the Tigers to three conference titles while throwing for more than 5,000 yards and 43 touchdowns en route to earning All-SWAC honors on two occasions. He later had success as a coach in the league, first at Alabama State - helping the Hornets not only win the SWAC, but also a black college national championship - and also was successful at his alma mater and Alcorn State.
So when he was let go at North Carolina A&T last season, McKenzie looked for an opportunity to return to the conference.
He found it at Alabama A&M, where he was recently named the Bulldogs' receivers coach. McKenzie replaces Roger Totten, who left to become an assistant at Alabama State in January.
"I'm familiar with the SWAC," McKenzie said Tuesday. "I played in the league and coached in the league. I know the players and the different areas. It's a little easier for me to adapt. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference was a great experience, but there's a different philosophy there as far as what they're trying to get done football-wise.
"In the SWAC, I'm a little more comfortable ... more at home. Things have worked out a little better in the SWAC for me and that's one of the reasons I wanted to get back in the league."
McKenzie started his coaching career at Alabama State under former coach Houston Markham and tutored Ricky Jones, one of the most dynamic quarterbacks ever to play in the league. The Hornets won the SWAC in 1991 and also claimed the black college national championship.
He left ASU to return to his alma mater and then spent a year at Fayetteville State before becoming the head coach at Delaware State from 1997-99. After that, McKenzie spent seven seasons as the offensive coordinator at Alcorn State and tutored quarterback Donald Carrie and current NFL wide receivers Charlie Spiller and Nate Hughes.
McKenzie applied for the A&M job and was hired after being fired at NCA&T.
"I knew the success that this staff had had," he said. "Being out of work, it was a great opportunity for me to come into a program that had had some success. Normally, I've gone to programs where we had to rebuild and start over and we've been able to turn programs around. That's not the case here. I'm looking forward to being here where the pieces are already in place.
"Coach (Anthony) Jones has had success everywhere he's been. Going against (defensive coordinator) Coach (Brawnski) Towns and the great defenses he presented was always a challenge. I knew if I could get with a good program like Alabama A&M, I would have a chance to be successful. In this profession, it's all about winning and rings and it's been a long time since I had a ring as a coach."
Jones was thrilled to be able to hire a coach of McKenzie's caliber.
"We lost a good coach in Roger, but we feel we have filled this position with a very capable and experienced coach in Coach McKenzie," he said. "We are excited to see his expertise in action on the field."
McKenzie also will monitor the team's academic progress, Jones said.
