Doug Williams Selected As The 2024 AFCA Trailblazer Award Recipient

Doug Williams, former head coach at Morehouse and Grambling State, and longtime executive in the NFL, has been named the American Football Coaches Association’s recipient of the 2024 Trailblazer Award. The award will be presented to Williams during the 2025 AFCA Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The AFCA Trailblazer Award was created to honor leaders in the football coaching profession who coached at historically black colleges and universities. Past Trailblazer Award winners include Charles Williams, Hampton (2004); Cleve Abbott, Tuskegee (2005); Arnett Mumford, Southern (2006); Billy Nicks, Prairie View A&M (2007); Alonzo “Jake” Gaither, Florida A&M (2008); Fred “Pops” Long, Wiley (2009); Harry R. “Big Jeff” Jefferson, Bluefield State (2010); Edward P. Hurt, Morgan State (2011); Vernon “Skip” McCain, Maryland-Eastern Shore (2012); Marino Casem, Alcorn State (2013); Gideon Smith, Hampton (2014); Eddie Robinson, Grambling State (2015); Oree Banks, South Carolina State and West Virginia State (2016); John Merritt, Jackson State and Tennessee State (2017); Earl Banks, Morgan State (2018); Bill Hayes, Winston-Salem State and North Carolina A&T (2019); Edward Jackson, Delaware State, Johnson C. Smith and Howard (2021); Henry Kean, Kentucky State and Tennessee State (2022); and Edward Clemons, Edward Waters, Lane, Morris Brown and Jackson State (2023).

Williams rose to fame as a standout quarterback at Grambling State playing for the great Eddie Robinson. He threw for over 8,000 yards and 93 touchdowns and led the Tigers to two Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championships and three Black College national titles. In his senior season of 1977, Williams finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting. A first-round pick of Tampa Bay in the 1978 NFL Draft, Williams led the Buccaneers to their first three playoff appearances and left as the franchise’s all-time leader in touchdown passes, passing yards, attempts and completions.

Williams spent two seasons in the USFL with the Oklahoma/Arizona Outlaws, then joined the Washington Commanders in 1986. He guided Washington to a Super Bowl title in 1987 and earned the game’s Most Valuable Player award by setting records for most touchdown passes (four), most passing yards (340), longest pass completion (80 yards) and longest touchdown pass (80 yards). Williams retired from playing after the 1989 season and started his coaching career as the head coach and athletic director at Point Coupee High School in New Roads, Louisiana, in 1991. He returned to his high school alma mater, Northeast High School, in Zachary, Louisiana, in 1993 before entering the college ranks at Navy in 1994 as the running backs coach.

In 1995, Williams was the offensive coordinator for the Scottish Claymores in the World League, then became a college scout for the Jacksonville Jaguars for two seasons. He earned his first college head coaching job at Morehouse in 1997, then returned to Grambling as head coach in 1998, replacing the retiring Eddie Robinson. In his six seasons as head coach, Williams led the Tigers to a 52-18 record with three SWAC and Black College national titles from 2000 to 2002.

Williams left Grambling after the 2003 season and became Personnel Executive for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004. He would hold that title for five years, then was named Director of Pro Personnel in 2009. The Virginia Destroyers of the Untied Football League made Williams their General Manager for the 2010 and 2011 seasons, then he returned to Grambling as head coach for three more seasons, winning another SWAC title in 2011.

Williams is currently the Senior Advisor to the General Manager of the Washington Commanders and has been with the organization since 2014. He was Personnel Executive from 2014-16, then Senior Vice President of Player Personnel from 2017-19 and Senior Vice President of Player Development from 2020 to 2021 before taking on his current role.

Williams is a member of Washington’s Ring of Fame and a member of the 80 Greatest Washington players. He has been inducted into the Louisiana Sports and Washington DC Sports Halls of Fame and is a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring of Honor. Williams, along with Shack Harris, founded The Shack Harris & Doug Williams Foundation in 2005, with the purpose of providing grants for after-school initiatives, leadership development, mentoring programs and minority higher education assistance for economically disadvantaged youth. The foundation also established the Black College Hall of Fame in 2010.

Doug and his wife Raunda have eight children: Ashley, Adrian, Carmeleta, Doug Jr., Jasmine, Laura, Lee and Temessia.

Dr. Martin Lemelle Jr. named new president of Grambling State University

The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Thursday afternoon to name Dr. Martin Lemelle as the next president of Grambling State University.

“To this illustrious Board, to our Gram Fam across the globe, to our students, current and future, to our alumni community, my family, friends, and supporters … This is our story. This is the Grambling State University story,” Lemelle said.

The Grambling Presidential Search Committee narrowed the field to three finalists, Dr. Gregory Ford, Dr. Monica Williams, and Lemelle after interviewing six semifinalists on Grambling’s campus earlier this month.

“Dr. Lemelle’s appointment as the 11th president of Grambling State University guarantees a leader well-prepared on day one,” said Rick Gallot, who left the Grambling presidency to assume the role of UL System President and CEO at the start of the year . “I am confident that under President Lemelle’s leadership, Grambling State University will continue to thrive with its best days yet to come.”

Lemelle is a 2006 graduate and former student government association president of Grambling. He has most recently served as executive vice president & chief financial officer at Maryland Institute College of Art. Prior, he served as executive vice president and chief operating officer at GSU from 2016-2021.

Gallot and Board Chair Dr. Jimmy Clarke are authorized to negotiate Lemelle’s start date.

[SOURCE: GRAM.EDU]

Magic Johnson company gives $2 million to Grambling State University

Grambling State announced that Magic Johnson’s SodexoMAGIC donated one of the largest unrestricted gifts in the University’s 118-year history. The $2 million contribution comes only four months into the multi-year partnership between the University and international food service and facilities management giant.

“Significant investments in student advancement are essential to our efforts to build the most vibrant academic community possible,” said Grambling State University President Rick Gallot. “I want to thank SodexoMAGIC’s leadership for their outstanding partnership and generous support of our deserving students.”

Supporting Rapid University Growth

This July, Grambling State launched a multi-year dining partnership with SodexoMAGIC that included a host of academic and community benefits for the rapidly growing university. The new agreement will deliver $6.7 million in facility renovations and add new, major-brand restaurants to campus. In addition to an enhanced food service program, the deal garners a $51 million return on investment built into the five-year renewal option.

The $2 million contribution comes at an important time in the University’s growth as a technology leader, which includes the launch of Louisiana’s only bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity and infrastructure developments like the state’s first Digital Library and Learning Commons.

“Our dining partner has made many commitments to advance some of the University’s top priorities such as educational innovation, holistic student advancement and infrastructure upgrades,” said Martin Lemelle, Executive Vice President. “Their $2 million contribution is leading the way for unprecedented growth and development.”

Investing in Education

The agreement also includes bolstering support for Grambling State’s advancing technology degree programs and forthcoming community focused STEM education program. The University is established as a tech and STEM leader in higher education, having recently been approved to propose Louisiana’s first Bachelor’s in Cloud Computing and designated for a Center of Academic Excellence in Mathematical Achievement for Science and Technology.

“Students matriculating at Grambling State will be thoroughly prepared for the most in-demand career opportunities of the 21st century,” said Provost, Dr. Connie Walton. “SodexoMAGIC’s investment provides the fuel to ensure that our degree programs and educational opportunities are aligned with the demands of the world around us.”

Enhancing Student Opportunities

SodexoMAGIC’s bequest will count toward the ongoing Bring It Home fundraising campaign spearheaded by the University’s Office of Advancement. The gift doubles the campaigns $1 million goal.

“Grambling State is growing faster than ever and our community of support is matching the pace with their donations,” said Marc Newman, Vice President of Advancement. “The outpouring of support from our partner, SodexoMAGIC, is a huge catalyst for university growth.

Proceeds from the Bring It Home campaign have historically provided thousands of students with financial aid gap funding, supplied scholarships, and other forms direct student support.

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