Copyright Baton Rouge Advocate
Southern has fired football coach Terrence Graves after leading the team to a 1-6 record to start the season, the university announced on Monday. According to a statement released by the university, a national search has begun to find Graves' replacement. "I want to thank Coach Graves for the energy, determination, and for leading the team to a Western Division championship," Southern athletic director Roman Banks said in a statement. "Graves' connection to Southern University runs deep — he will always be a Jaguar. "This was a difficult decision, but the results on the field were not acceptable. After evaluating every aspect of the football program. I believe it is in the best interests of Southern football student-athletes, our fans and our university." Southern's interim coach will be Fred McNair, who has been serving as the team's co-offensive coordinator and play-caller. McNair served as the Alcorn State head coach from 2016-23, compiling a record of 47-33 and reaching a pair of Celebration Bowls. The Jaguars are 0-3 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, making them one of three teams winless in the conference after eight weeks. They will be looking for their fourth coach since Dawson Odum left the program for Norfolk State after the 2020 season. Following Southern’s 24-3 loss to Prairie View, Banks held an impromptu postgame press conference with reporters. The nine-year athletic director and former Southern basketball coach said that he would have several meetings with players and Graves to make a decision. “I need to communicate with them and kind of get down to the bottom of it,” Banks said Saturday. “But obviously it’s not trending well. We're not excited about it. And it's our jobs as coaches, and I've been in the business on that side before, so I understand, but it's our job to have teams ready.” Before the firing was official, Banks said that a coaching change for him is meant to find the “right person for Southern” and that in this line of work, winning is the “bottom line." The Jaguars made the SWAC title game in Graves' first season, finishing 8-5 overall and 7-1 in the conference. Entering 2025, Southern was voted the preseason No. 1 team in the SWAC West by coaches and sports information directors and the preseason No. 4 team in the BOXTOROW national HBCU football media poll. Banks said that while the program doesn’t put much stock into preseason rankings, this season has been “real disappointing.” Southern attempted to get its season on track when it made adjustments to the coaching staff, elevating McNair from quarterbacks coach to the team’s co-offensive coordinator and play-caller starting with its Sept. 13 game against Fresno State. “I was hoping, you know, we can get some energy in the room, but it seemed to not be working,” Banks said. The Jaguars have dealt with a bevy of injuries, with none more critical than the one suffered by Jalen Woods, who was expected to be their starting quarterback. The redshirt sophomore was the only returner at the position, and he hasn’t played since Aug. 30 after being put in concussion protocol against Mississippi Valley State. He left the game in the second quarter after taking a hit to the helmet while sliding. Banks acknowledged the injuries after Saturday’s loss and said that it’s not an excuse, which Graves had previously said he agreed with. “Obviously, I know we have some injuries, but that's the game of football, and we recruit for a reason,” Banks said. “So personally, I know that student-athletes and the coaches in that room aren’t happy, but there’s also, you know, leadership and fans that all expect more.” Southern’s offense is last in the SWAC in points (13.1) and total yards per game (285.4). The Jaguars were Graves’ first head coaching job after he spent 31 years primarily as an assistant college coach at several stops, including three times as an interim head coach. Graves became the interim coach after Southern fired Eric Dooley on Nov. 14, 2023. Graves then coached the Jaguars to a 27-22 win over Grambling in the 50th Bayou Classic. Graves had three different stints as an assistant coach at Southern from 1996-2002, 2004-09 and from 2022-23. He held positions as special teams coordinator, linebackers coach and defensive coordinator. He was also a Southern graduate assistant from 1994-95.
