Stillman hires new offensive coordinator

TUSCALOOSA - Former Jackson State University standout Melvin Pete has signed on as the new offensive coordinator and academic adviser for the Stillman College football team. Pete, who was named to the position on June 1, joins the Tiger coaching staff after serving as head football coach at J.F. Shields High School in Beatrice, AL. He replaces interim offensive coordinator Terrell Stewart.

Melvin Pete

"Coach Pete will be an asset to the college," said Head Coach Theophilus Danzy. "His father was a football coach, so he has been around football his entire life and has good coaching experience on the collegiate level." Dr. Richard Cosby, Stillman Athletics Director, said, "We feel very good about his coming to Stillman to help us in our pursuit of excellence in both academics and athletics."

Pete, a native of Jackson, MS, brings a 30-34 record and a wealth of experience to Stillman as a player and a coach. A 1986 graduate of Jackson State University, Pete along with Stillman defensive coordinator Dennis Conner, a 1987 JSU graduate, was a member of the Jackson State football team that dominated the Southwestern Athletic Conference during the early-1980s. During his tenure at JSU, Pete won four SWAC Championships and set a then single-game passing record (393 yards and four touchdowns) as quarterback.

"I am looking forward to helping the Stillman football team succeed this season and for years to come," said Pete. "As a former college quarterback, I hope to pass my playing knowledge and experience to our quarterbacks and receivers to help them succeed on and off the playing field."

After graduating from JSU Pete secured his first coaching position in 1990 at Georgiana High School in Georgiana, AL. At Georgiana he coached quarterbacks and receivers. In 1991 Pete took his first head coaching position at J.F Shields High School. After one season with J.F. Shields Pete was offered and accepted an assistant coaching job at Bethune Cookman College in Daytona Beach, FL. Pete stayed at Bethune Cookman for three years, coaching quarterbacks, receivers, and running backs.

In 1996 Pete returned to J.F. Shields as head coach. Before coming to Stillman Pete led J.F. Shields to an 8-2 record. After losing the first game of the 2000 high school football season 29-6 to Brantley High School Pete rallied his team on to an eight-game winning streak. During this streak his offense scored at least 32 points, with a season high of 52 points against Marengo High School.

Pete will inherit a good Stillman offense that averaged 29 points per game and produced the school's first 1,000-yard rusher in Riccardo Thomas. He should also have a game proven quarterback in 1999 starter Antwan Blatch and a good crop of receivers.

"I came to a few of the Stillman games last season and saw some good things. I will not make any drastic changes to an already good offense, but Coach Danzy is letting me expand the passing game. I took a look at last season's depth chart and I will get a good look at all of the returning players when training camp starts, but every position is open and each man will have to earn his spot."

The 2001 Stillman Football Training Camp will begin Wednesday, August 8.

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