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GRAMBLING, La. - Grambling State University has relieved football head coach Doug Williams and placed running backs coach George Ragsdale as interim head coach effective immediately.
The University announced today as the Tigers head to the Missouri Classic in Kansas City with a 0-2 record.
The University mentioned in a release 'head football coach Doug Williams was released from his position, effective immediately. The University has decided to move in another direction, buying out the remainder of his contract.'
“We recognize Doug Williams’ many contributions to our football legacy,” said Pogue, “and we express our deep appreciation for his service to Grambling State University and we wish him well in the future.”
Williams confirmed to The News-Star (Monroe, La.) that he was fired Wednesday morning.
This was the second stint as head coach of his alma mater for Williams, who played quarterback for the Tigers under legendary coach Eddie Robinson before becoming an NFL first-round draft pick in 1978.
Williams is known primarily for being the first and only black starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl as a member of the 1987 Washington Redskins.
He succeeded Robinson upon his retirement from coaching in 1997 and was 53-17 with three Southwestern Athletic Conference titles until leaving to take a job as a personnel executive with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the 2003 season.
He returned to Grambling State in 2011 and in the same season won another SWAC title. Last year, the Tigers slumped to 1-10 finishing winless in the SWAC (0-9) for the first time in program history. Williams overall record at the school is 62-33.
Ragsdale interim status begins immediately. He has coached in the SWAC and MEAC, including stints at North Carolina A&T, Norfolk State, Morris Brown and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. He was a four-year letterman at NCA&T and he still holds the school’s all-time rushing record. He helped the school reach its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship in 1975.
Ragsdale played with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Washington Redskins. He also played in the United States Football League (USFL) with the Oklahoma Outlaws.