Alcorn State's Noah Johnson, left, shakes hands with an interviewer after he and coach Fred McNair speak to reporters during SWAC media day Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama. It’s not uncommon for a football coach in the Southwestern Athletic Conference to wind up on multiple staffs within the league. Take for instance Southern tight ends coach Fred McNair.
For seven seasons, he was a nemesis of the Jaguars by winning six of nine meetings as head coach at rival Alcorn State, including two meetings in the SWAC championship game. McNair said everything appears forgiven as he tries to help recharge a Southern offense that sputtered through the last two seasons. He and first-year offensive coordinator Mark Frederick are teaming up to make the position relevant.
“The reception has been great,” said McNair, who was hired by his old friend and Jaguars coach Terrence Graves. “Coach Graves has done a great job of making me feel comfortable. The administration, (athletic director Roman) Banks, and the relationship we have as coaches is always good as far as how we respect each other.
“The fans have been receptive. They approached me and said how great it was to have me here. I’m grateful to be here.
They’ve showed me some great eating spots. I’ve got to watch my diet.” McNair, the brother of the late NFL star Steve McNair, played quarterback at Alcorn State and made pro stops in the Canadian Football League, the WLAF and Arena Football.
He won a Grey Cup with Toronto in 1991. In 2012, he returned to his alma mater as an assistant and got the head coaching job in 2016. At the end of last season, he resigned from Alcorn and was expecting to be named head coach at Texas Southern, but that school’s board of supervisors overruled the administration and reopened the interviews, choosing former NFL player Cris Dishman instead.
That left McNair in limbo. Although he had multiple offers, he joined the Jaguars to stay close to home. “It’s been an easy transition,” McNair said.
“As a head coach, you know all the positions. I was welcomed with open arms in terms of what they expected of me. You find your happiness.
It’s less stressful. I’ve been there and done that.” McNair said he likes the talent at the position, which includes Dupree Fuller and Jermaine Minor.
Last season at Alcorn, McNair coached all-conference tight end Tavarious Griffin, who caught 25 passes for 317 yards and four touchdowns. “The tight end talent at Southern is among the best I’ve seen in the conference,” McNair said. “It shows with the things they bring, the height, the weight and elusiveness.
"Coach Frederick has done a great job with the personnel packages. The players are great in terms of knowledge and what they can do on the field. I’ve got five guys in my room and all of them are capable of playing.
” Fuller said McNair has brought a wealth of knowledge about the position and offense in general. “Coach McNair has been a big help and an excellent role model guiding us and showing us the right way,” Fuller said. “We perfect the small stuff before we move on to something big.
” Graves is thrilled to have McNair as one of three former SWAC head coaches on his staff — with the others being quarterbacks coach Willie Totten, and special teams coordinator and defensive ends coach Everett Todd. “Fred and I have known each other over the years,” Graves said. “I’ve always respected how he goes about the profession and how he does things.
The opportunity to get another head coach on the staff, to have that knowledge, wisdom and experience certainly helps me as I embark on this journey. I look at it as a blessing and an asset.”.
