Former Delaware State coach joins Alcorn State staff
John McKenzie named offensive coordinator

ALCORN STATE, Miss. -The Alcorn State University athletics department officially announces the hiring of John McKenzie as the offensive coordinator with the Braves football coaching staff. He replaces former offensive coordinator Riley Murry who served in this capacity during the past two seasons. Prior to his arrival to campus, McKenzie served as the head coach at Delaware State University from 1996 to 1999.

Braves head coach Johnny Thomas was pleased with the arrival of McKenzie "He brings to us a wealth of experience from other places as a player and as an assistant coach. He has been an offensive coordinator more so than an assistant coach and a head coach at Delaware State University. He brings a wealth of experience to the staff as well as our offensive unit and I also think that he is going to be a tremendous asset to our program."

McKenzie was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Fayetteville State University prior to his appointment at Delaware State. He was the offensive coordinator at Alabama State University from 1987 to 1991. During the 1991 season, the Hornets went 11-0-1 en route to their first-ever Southwestern Athletic Conference championship while earning a berth to the inaugural Heritage Bowl at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida. Also in the same year, Alabama State averaged 430 yards and 41.2 points per game while posting 630 yards of total offense en route to a 36-13 victory over North Carolina A&T in the Heritage Bowl.

During the 1990 season, McKenzie's offense at Alabama State averaged 440 yards and 34.9 points per game. Among the former Hornet players he helped to develop were former Delaware State assistants Reggie Brown and Patrick Johnson. Brown's college success led him to the Houston Oilers of the National Football League, while Johnson is one of the few players in the history of the SWAC to have been named a first-team all-conference selection for four straight years. The Miami, Florida native was also instrumental in the development of former New York Jets halfback Brad Baxter, an Alabama State product who currently holds the SWAC's single-season rushing record of 1,705 yards.

McKenzie's coaching ledger also includes two stops on the Jackson State University staff. He was an assistant quarterbacks coach from 1985 to 1986 and then returned to the Tigers staff as the offensive coordinator in 1992. In 1986, he was the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Miami Central High School.

McKenzie has also served as a supervisor at the Walter Payton Football Camp and participated in the training camps of six NFL teams. The teams are as follows: Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Los Angeles Raiders.

McKenzie was a quarterback during his playing days at Jackson State in which he threw for 5,014 yards and 43 touchdowns. He was a All-SWAC selection during the 1982 and 1983 seasons while leading the Tigers to SWAC championships in 1982 and 1985. McKenzie set eight Jackson State single-season passing records including completions (142), passing yards (2,067) and total offense (2,127). He earned his degree in biology from Jackson State in 1986 while earning credit hours toward a Master's degree in counseling from Alabama State.

During his tenure at Delaware State, McKenzie has made himself available to the Dover community. In addition to being active in his church and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he is a popular speaker who has addressed various groups such as the Boys and Girls Club and the Salvation Army. McKenzie has established successful academic programs for his student-athletes and has encouraged his players to support other activities on Delaware State's campus. He also has plans of working with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes while at Alcorn State.

John is married to the former Venus Lewis of Jackson, Mississippi and they have six children, Frederick, Octavian, Cedric, Freddie, LaQuerna and Ty're.

McKenzie was rather enthusiastic about his arrival at Alcorn State. "It is a great opportunity, I am glad to be back in the SWAC and the Alcorn State family has afforded me that opportunity. I am just looking forward to it and I hope that we can have some results that we can all be proud of."

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