PRAIRIE VIEW, Tex. C. L. Whittington, former NFL defensive back and
alumnus of Prairie View A&M, has been named the new head football coach at
Prairie View A&M University, according to university athletics director
Charles McClelland.
“We were looking for someone who exhibited a strong ability to recruit in
the Texas area as well as instill discipline in our football team,” said
McClelland. “We need someone to come in and immediately instill that type of
discipline as well bring in the top quality talent needed to turn our
program around. Coach Whittington’s abilities to do that made him a good fit
for the program and we feel he can make an immediate impact.
“I anticipate this move will bring the alumni closer to the football
program because Coach Whittington is respected throughout the Prairie View
community,” McClelland added. “His credentials are outstanding and by him
being a graduate of the university he can understand the culture of Prairie
View and he has the fire and energy to do all what it takes to turn the
program around.”
Whittington’s duties will become effective immediately. A Beaumont native
and a 1973 graduate of Prairie View A&M, Whittington was a four-year
lettermen for the Panthers from 1970 to 1973 and also served as team
captain. Upon graduating from Prairie View in 1973, he moved on to the
professional level and played with the NFL’s Houston Oilers from 1974 to
1979. While playing for the Oilers, Whittington had the opportunity to play
key roles on both sides of the ball in addition to serving as special teams
captain.
Once his career in the NFL concluded, Whittington entered the coaching
ranks and eventually worked his way back to Prairie View during the 1984
season. While at Prairie View, he served as the defensive backs, wide
receivers and special teams coach for five seasons and was a part of the
last coaching staff to post a non-losing record (5-5, 1988). Whittington
eventually left Prairie View before the 1989 season to serve as defensive
coordinator at Texas Southern University and he has also served on the
staffs of several semi-pro and NFL organizations. A member of the Prairie
View A&M University Sports Hall of Fame, Whittington was defensive line and
special teams coach of the NFL Europe Frankfurt Galaxy when they captured
the 1995 World Bowl Championship.
Whittington said coming back to his alma mater was a dream come true.
“It has been a lifelong dream of mine to coach at Prairie View since I
attended the university and represented it on the coaching and professional
level,” he said. “Just the idea of coming home and putting the program back
on track is a dream of mine.”
Starting next fall, the Prairie View A&M football program will field the
maximum allotment of football scholarships allowed by the NCAA for 1-AA
schools. Whittington said the allotment should help steer the Panther
football program in a positive direction.
“The scholarships add more intensity to the program because when you see
the campus, it is a beautiful place,” he said. “People want to come to
Prairie View because of its rich tradition. The scholarships give us an
opportunity to let the current athletes dream again along with the families
that attended Prairie View.”
With national signing day around the corner, Whittington said recruiting
would be his top priority once he assumes the position.
“Recruiting will be our top priority now but even though it is late, the
biggest thing Mr. McClelland had in place during this time was the fact that
the other coaches still on the staff were out recruiting. We are not as far
behind as you think. Along with recruiting, establishing the mentality of
what is going to happen at Prairie View will be another priority.”
As for retaining the current football staff, Whittington said he would
sit
down and talk with the coaches and make recommendations from there.
“You have to see how the coaches feel about coming back and about the
change that is taking place. Anytime you have coaches who have endured what
the current staff has been through, I think that you have to give them the
opportunity to see how they work and see what they want to do.”
