Most Influential Black Coaches

Occasionally you can find something interesting on Twitter. Four weeks ago I came across one of the more interesting things I've seen on the time-consuming social media vehicle. Each day, for the 28 days of Black History Month, David Porter listed an influential black coach in college football. He just finished his list. I'm glad that I discovered his efforts at about Day 3 of the process because it was fun anticipating each new coach.  Porter is the receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at The Apprentice School in Newport News, Virginia. He's in the football coaching business, he knows and works with these coaches, he knows what he's doing when he puts together a list like this. And I thank him for recognizing some coaches that I did know and introducing me to some difference-making coaches that I didn't know.

The Most Influential Black Coaches

1.   Brennan Marion-William & Mary OC/QB Coach
2.   Mel Tucker-Colorado Head Coach
3.   Tony Elliott-Clemson Clemson Co-OC/RB Coach
4.   Re'Quan Boyette-Duke RB Coach
5.   Loren Johnson-Highland Springs High School Head Coach
6.   Ruffin McNeill-Oklahoma Associate Head Coach/DC
7.   Andre Powell-Pitt RB Coach/STC
8.   Bryan McClendon-South Carolina OC
9.   Torrian Gray-Florida DB Coach
10. Charles Huff-Alabama RB Coach
11. Van Malone-Kansas State CB Coach
12. Anthony Poindexter-Purdue co-DC/Safeties Coach
13. Josh Gattis-Michigan OC
14. Winston October-Ottawa Redblacks WR Coach
15. Justin Hamilton-Virginia Tech Safeties Coach
16. Tyron Carrier-Houston WR Coach
17. Michael Locksley-Maryland Head Coach
18. Christian Parker-Green Bay Packers Defensive Assistant
19. Clayton White-Western Kentucky DC
20. Troy Walters-Nebraska OC/WR Coach
21. Larry Johnson-Ohio State Assistant Head Coach/DL Coach
22. Derrick Ansley-Tennessee DC/DB Coach
23. Derek Jones-Duke Associate Head Coach/DB Coach
24. Deke Adams-Mississippi State DL Coach
25. Cornell Brown, Marshall DE Coach
26. Zohn Burden-Virginia Tech RB Coach
27. Keenan Carter Sr.-William & Mary DL Coach
28. Bobby Rome-Virginia University of Lynchburg Head Coach
28. John Davis-Apprentice School Head Coach
28. Cato June-Howard University Outside LB Coach
28. Marques Hagans-Virginia WR Coach
28. Fontel Mines-East Carolina Inside WR Coach
28. Mike Cooke-Sacred Heart DC/LB Coach
28. Elijah Brooks-Maryland RB Coach

There really aren't enough days in Black History Month. It looks like David Porter had more coaches to recognize than days. I really enjoyed being introduced to a new coach each day throughout February. Some of the coaches I knew from their playing careers. Some I knew from their coaching careers. There were several I didn't know at all. Now I do and I thank Porter for that.

A couple of the coaches that I did know are former Minnesota Vikings players. As a safety out of Virginia Tech, Torrain Gray was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of 1997 NFL Draft. After two promising seasons with four starts, a knee injury forced Gray to retire before the 2000 season. He's been moving through the coaching ranks ever since. Troy Walters was a fifth round pick out of Stanford in the 2000 NFL Draft. He also spent two years in Minnesota.