Clarence McKinney was named Head Football Coach at Texas Southern University on Dec. 3, 2018 and begins his fifth season.
Faced with a major rebuilding job in his first season at TSU, McKinney quickly went to work in building a foundation for future success. On the field, the TSU offense finished fourth overall in the SWAC in total offense with 416.6 yards per game and nearly 3,000 total yards as it marked one of the top offensive finishes in university history and the highest offensive output since 2010. The offense boasted a 1,000-yard receiver in Donnie Corley in addition to one of the top kickers in the SWAC in freshman Richard Garcia III as both earned All-SWAC honors. The Tigers also showed SWAC opponents what to expect in the future as several of their games came down to the wire despite fielding a youthful roster with true freshmen in key roles.
McKinney also displayed his leadership in the spring of 2021 after leading the Tigers in their historic spring season. Senior defensive lineman Michael Badejo earned second team All-SWAC honors while also navigating the team through the challenges of COVID-19. In addition, defensive linebacker Tim Walton made history as a draft pick of the United States Football League (USFL).
McKinney’s rebuilding efforts began to bear fruit in the fall of 2021 as TSU began to turn the corner with its play on the field. The Tiger offense finished second in the SWAC as the unit averaged 29 points per game while also averaging 429 yards per contest. The Tigers also ranked second in rush offense (188.1), third in passing (241.2) and first downs (20.1) and fourth in red zone offense (83.7 percent). On special teams, the Tigers finished second in PATs (38-of-39), third in punt returns (11.8) and kickoffs (39.1) as the team won a pair of SWAC contests.
TSU also defeated Southern University for the first time since 2011 and had several games decided in the closing minutes which displayed a full team effort for nearly 60 minutes. Four Tigers were rewarded for their efforts on the gridiron with a spot on the 2021 All-SWAC Football Team as it marked the most Tigers to earn all-conference postseason honors since 2010. Individually, freshman quarterback Andrew Body exploded on the scene in 2021 as one of the top players in the SWAC after ranking top 10 in both passing and rushing in addition to second in total offense. Senior wide receiver Ke’Lenn Davis finished third in the SWAC in receiving yards. Kick returner LaDarius Owens finished fifth in kick return average and second in all-purpose yardage. The TSU offensive line also made a complete turnaround from his first season as the unit finished third in the SWAC in sacks allowed. Defensively, linebacker Tarik Cooper finished 14th in the SWAC in tackles while cornerback Isaiah Hamilton finished 14th with nine pass deflections and seventh in fumble recoveries.
In 2022, the hard work McKinney has put in continued to blossom as the Tigers were in the hunt for a SWAC West crown up until the final full weekend of the season. TSU finished one game short of earning its first winning season while posting its best SWAC record (4-4) since 2000 as the team posted its most wins (5) since 2014. McKinney is only the third coach in TSU history to record wins over both Southern University and Grambling State while also the first coach to defeat Southern University in consecutive seasons since 1977-78. In addition, three Tigers (Derrick Tucker, Tarik Cooper, Drake Centers) earned a spot in the second annual HBCU Legacy Bowl while Tucker was selected in the sixth round of the 2023 USFL College Draft which marked the third Tiger drafted under McKinney. Along with Tucker’s success, offensive lineman Drake Centers also earned an opportunity to play professionally as he joined the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League.
TSU was one of the most improved teams in the league in 2022 as they fielded the fourth-best scoring offense and was sixth in scoring defense. TSU was also top four in rush offense (177.7 ypg), kickoff returns (20.9), punt returns (10.5), sacks against (23), red zone defense (67.6%), opponent penalties (77.5), penalties (65.7) and opponent third down conversions (67.6%). Three Tigers (Drake Centers, Isaiah Hamilton and Chaunzavia Lewis) earned All-SWAC honors as Centers was TSU’s first two-time All-SWAC lineman in 50 years while Hamilton led the SWAC with five interceptions and also led the league with two returned for a touchdown. Wide receiver Derek Morton exploded on the scene with a 36-catch season after only eight in 2021. Quarterback Andrew Body finished fourth in total offense while Chaunzavia Lewis led the SWAC in punt returns and was third in kick return yardage. Defensively, linebacker Jacob Williams went from a single digit freshman season to a 53-tackle season as a sophomore and a team leader.
Off the field, McKinney and his coaching staff has worked tirelessly in spreading the TSU football brand in the Houston area and state of Texas. On the recruiting front, McKinney has begun to restock the roster with quality high school talent from across the state which will pay dividends in the future while also having four student-athletes during his watch earn an opportunity to play professional football. In the classroom, McKinney has also handled business as 60-plus student-athletes have graduated under his watch after two seasons while the team continues to place many of its student-athletes on the SWAC Commissioner's Honor Roll on a yearly basis.
A member of Kevin Sumlin’s first coaching staff at Houston, McKinney arrived to Texas Southern after spending the 2018 season as Associate Head Coach/Running Backs at the University of Arizona.
Prior to his stint with the Arizona Wildcats McKinney spent six seasons on Sumlin’s staff at Texas A&M serving as Running Backs coach (2012-17) as well as Offensive Coordinator (2013). While at Texas A&M in 2016 the Aggies produced one of the greatest rushing seasons in the last 20 years at Texas A&M. Trayveon Williams surpassed the 1,000-yard mark with 1,057 yards, while Keith Ford chipped in 669 yards as the Aggies’ rushing attack averaged 5.7 yards per carry and produced 211.8 yards per game.
In 2015, the Aggies’ running back corps produced its first 1,000-yard rusher of the McKinney era when Tra Carson rushed for 1,165 yards, which included seven 100-yard rushing games. Using a balanced rotation of running backs in 2014, the Aggies’ trio of runners averaged over five yards per carry while combining for 1,520 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.
As previously noted in addition to his running back coach duties, McKinney served as the Aggies’ offensive coordinator and play-caller for the 2013 Cotton Bowl and the 2013 regular season. Under his direction, the Aggies led the SEC in passing, scoring and total offense, while setting school records for passing yards, touchdowns and completion percentage.
Under McKinney’s direction in 2012, the Aggies’ top three running backs combined for more than 1,600 yards while averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Combined with quarterback Johnny Manziel, A&M’s rushing attack was the best in the SEC and was the school’s most productive ground game in more than 20 seasons.
Prior to coming to Texas A&M, McKinney served as Houston’s recruiting coordinator, in addition to overseeing the Cougar running backs. His four-year stay at Houston was highly successful as the Cougars compiled a 36-17 record and played in three bowl games. UH posted double-digit wins twice during his stay, including 2011’s school-record 13 victories and bowl triumph over Penn State.
UH’s 2011 campaign enjoyed the strong play of running back Charles Sims, who gained 7.5 yards per carry on his way to 821 yards while grabbing 51 passes for 575 yards. In 2010, McKinney tutored Bryce Beall to first-team All-C-USA honors. Beall and Michael Hayes combined for 1,499 yards and 20 touchdowns.
In 2009, Sims earned a spot on the C-USA All-Freshman Team after averaging 4.92 receptions per game, ranking third among FBS receiving running backs. During his first year at Houston in 2008, McKinney guided Beall to C-USA Freshman of the Year honors after becoming the first freshman in UH history to rush for more than 1,000 yards. Beall also was named the MVP of the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl after rushing for 135 yards and one touchdown in a 34-28 win over Air Force.
Prior to joining Sumlin’s staff at UH, McKinney served as head football coach at Jack Yates High School, compiling a winning record of 30-8 in three seasons. While at Yates he received several accolades, including being named a 2006 Gordon Wood 4A Coach of the Year Finalist and a 2007 Texans Coach of the Year Finalist.
McKinney also served as an assistant football coach at North Shore High School (2003-05) and Booker T. Washington High School (1997-2003) where he was named the 2003 Houston Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year. Under his leadership as head and assistant coach, McKinney helped many young men to receive scholarships to NCAA Division I schools and pursue their dreams of playing in the NFL.
