By Mark Pszonak
This has been an interesting off-season with ex-NFL players becoming first time college head coaches. First it was Michael Vick (Norfolk State), then DeSean Jackson (Delaware State), and now it is Terrell Buckley who was announced as Mississippi Valley State’s next head coach last night:
Welcome Head Coach Terrell Buckley to The Valley!!https://t.co/M4hvWJ9azI
— Mississippi Valley State Athletics (@MVSUDevilSports) January 22, 2025
While this is Buckley’s first head coaching job at the collegiate level, unlike Vick and Jackson, he arrives at Mississippi Valley State with an abundance of experience. And his experience has been with some of the most successful head coaches in the country. He spent time at Florida State (Bobby Bowden), Louisville (Bobby Petrino), Mississippi State (Dan Mullen) and Ole Miss (Lane Kiffin). Most recently he was a head coach in the XFL with the Orlando Guardians.
Before he began coaching, he enjoyed a memorable playing career at Florida State that culminated in him being inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame. He then spent 14 years in the NFL after being drafted by the Green Bay Packers with the #5 overall pick in 1992. Most notably playing with the Packers, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and Denver Broncos he totaled 546 tackles, 50 interceptions and six defensive touchdowns.
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The Pascagoula, Mississippi native now takes over a Delta Devils program that is most known for producing legendary wide receiver Jerry Rice. However, on-field success has been hard to come by for Mississippi Valley State for most of this century. The Delta Devils last winning season came in 2006 (6-5) and since that they have compiled a 27-156 record.
This won’t be an easy job for Buckley, but as with Vick and Jackson, his hire should added some juice to a program that desperately needs it.
