Tuskegee Coach Rick Comegy Takes Reins at Jackson State

Photo credit: Blue & White Flash New Jackson State head football coach Rick Comegy said it was "important for us to find quality athletes that will be productive on and off the field."

By Kendrick Marshall
Black College Wire

Before he was honored as coach of the year at Tuskegee University after the 2001 season, Rick Comegy had sat down with James Carson, former Jackson State head coach, and talked about what it would mean to take the reins at a Division 1-AA powerhouse.

Carson "told me what an honor it would be to coach at Jackson State and how successful we could be," Comegy said.

Comegy was up for the job after Jackson State fired Robert Hughes at the end of the 2002 season. Comegy, though, decided to stay at Tuskegee.

Four years later, the Tuskegee University head coach and athletics director, winner of the Eddie Robinson coach of the year award for 2001, finally became Jackson State's head coach, the 11th in its history.

Voting Dec. 7, Jackson State University's Head Football Coach Search Committee made its recommendation to Jackson State's president, Ronald Mason Jr.

"He was a good man and a good person that understood the tradition of the program," Mason said.

Mason said he was not concerned that it took Comegy more than a week to accept the Tiger job.

In his dual role at Tuskegee, Comegy made $140,000, but Jackson State officials said they were not able to hire another coach for more than the $85,000 that fired coach James Bell made in his two-plus seasons.

During Bell's time as head coach and defensive coordinator, the Tigers posted an 8-23 record and were a disappointing 2-9 at home. The Tigers had three straight losing seasons.

Comegy "wanted to be here and we wanted him here. It was a matter of just finding a common ground," Mason said.

According to reports, Comegy signed a four-year deal worth $120,000 to $200,000, making him one of highest-paid coaches in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Although he has more than 30 years of coaching experience, Comegy still has something to prove.

"I don't know everything right now. I plan to work hard and give it all I got to this program," he said. "I will rely on everybody to help me out in improving this program."

With 10 seasons at Tuskegee, Comegy's teams have won 90 games and lost 26. Comegy has led Tuskegee to Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles and a Black College National Championship.

The Golden Tigers placed second for this year's SIAC title and played Bowie State in the Pioneer Bowl in Charlotte, N.C.

Comegy said he wanted his current assistants to be a part of the coaching staff at Jackson State.

The current Tiger assistants will either have to look for new jobs or interview for a position under Comegy.

Jackson State assistant Ed Rigby has accepted a high school head coaching position in Pensacola, Fla., for next season.

Interim coach Daryl Jones was still on the phone trying to persuade potential recruits to attend Jackson State, even with the uncertainty in the coaching ranks.

Comegy will have only a short time to scour the land in search of prospects.

In 2004, Mason said that for the first time in years the university would be able to fully fund all athletic scholarships -- including football.

But Comegy said he was more concerned about academics.

"I want to find out what the academics are first. I want to let them know about the student-athletes first. It is important for us to find quality athletes that will be productive on and off the field," Comegy said.

Before Comegy arrived, Tuskegee's was a below-.500 football team. But it had five straight winning seasons from 1997 to 2001.

During his tenure at Central State and Cheyney universities, Comegy's teams sent 10 players to the professional football ranks, including Hugh Douglas, 1995 rookie of the year and a Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowler.

"We have to bring in athletes that will get it done for us down the road quickly. We have to get the talent in right away," Comegy said.

Can he turn it around?

The Tigers have had three straight losing seasons and the morale of the program is at a low point, but Comegy said he wanted to start by changing the attitudes of his players immediately so they can realize that winning is something the Tigers have always done.

"When other teams play us, we want them to [know] that we are Jackson State University. I want these guys to play with tenacity and aggression every play," he said. "When they are off the field, we want them to act like gentlemen, but on the field we want them to act like back alley boys."

At Tuskegee the Golden Lions ranked No.1 in offense and defense, a distinction he wants to bring to the Tigers in 2006. He also wants a team heavy on defense that relies on the big play and shutting down the other team's offense.

In 2005, the Tigers ranked near the bottom in offense and defense.

Comegy's goal seems more manageable under Division 1-AA standards. At Tuskegee, Comegy had only 36 scholarships to work with. At Jackson State he has double that number.

"This program will be committed to winning. I will not be on the sideline with a whistle acting like a coach. I will be on the sideline performing as a real coach," he said.

"I want my staff to work from can't-see until can't-see," Comegy said.

Kendrick Marshall is a student at Jackson State University and editor-in-chief of the Blue & White Flash.

Posted Dec. 16, 2005