Two first-year HBCU football head coaches who have turned around their programs are in the running for an award named for a Black College legend.
Prairie View A&M’s Tremaine Jackson and Delaware State’s DeSean Jackson have been named finalists for the Eddie Robinson FCS Coach of the Year Award, StatsPerform announced Monday.
Tremaine Jackson came to Prairie View from Division II Valdosta State, where he took the Blazers to the 2024 NCAA Division II national championship game. So far in his first season as Panthers’ head coach, Jackson has led PVAMU to the SWAC West title and nine wins, the program’s most since 2009.
Prairie View will visit Eastern Division champion Jackson State Saturday, Dec. 6, in the SWAC championship game.
DeSean Jackson has sparked a nationally recognized revival in Dover, as the Hornets won 8 games for the first time since their most recent MEAC championship year of 2007. By going from 1 win in 2024 to 8 this season, Jackson is responsible for FCS football’s most significant turnaround.
Delaware State finished the 2025 season with an overall record of 8-4 and a conference record of 4-1 in MEAC play, placing second behind back-to-back conference champion South Carolina State.
DeSean Jackson and Tremaine Jackson are among 15 finalists for the award, named for Grambling coach and HBCU football icon Eddie Robinson.