Fred McNair courted by Texas Southern football after talks fail at Alcorn State l Report
Fred McNair, who has been the coach at Alcorn State football since 2016, will not return. Instead, Defender, a Houston-based website, reported late Tuesday that McNair was being courted as the next coach of Texas Southern.
McNair’s contract was not renewed, according to interim athletics director Robert Raines.
“I would like to thank Coach Fred McNair for his many years of service and dedication to Alcorn State University. We worked diligently to extend Coach McNair a multi-year contract which would have placed him in the top tier of the conference with both compensation, incentives, and additional incentives for assistant coaches,” said Raines in a school release Tuesday. “Unfortunately, we could not reach a mutual agreement.”
Alcorn promoted Cedric Thomas to replace McNair. Thomas spent this season as defensive coordinator.
Texas Southern did not renew coach Clarence McKinney contract after going 3-8 this season. He was 12-35 since taking over in 2018.
If McNair is hired, he would inherit quarterback Jace Wilson, who won SWAC Newcomer of the Year. Wilson threw for 1,630 yards and 10 touchdowns.
McNair was 48-34 overall and 38-17 in the SWAC in seven seasons. The Braves played in back-to-back Celebration Bowls in 2018 and 2019. He led Alcorn to four successive SWAC East Division titles.
Alcorn was 7-4 this season and 6-2 in the SWAC West Division. This year’s team had six All-SWAC selections, the third most in the conference.
McNair led Alcorn State over Jackson State in the last game of the 2023 season, 28-24 at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on Nov.18.
PENALTIES DOOM JACKSON STATE IN LOSS Penalties doom Jackson State football comeback bid against Alcorn State in Soul Bowl loss
Alcorn hired Cedric Thomas on Tuesday to replace McNair. Grambling filled its vacancy with former Nebraska assistant Mickey Joseph on Monday after firing Hue Jackson. And Southern promoted assistant coach Terrence Graves on Dec. 12.
The SWAC has had nine football coaching changes in the last year.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Report: Fred McNair courted by Texas Southern after talks fail at Alcorn
