Cris Dishman, the 18th head football coach in the history of Texas Southern football, begins his second season at the helm.
Dishman’s first season at Texas Southern concluded with a two-game improvement in the win column from the previous season as he was seconds away in a pair of contests from achieving the program’s most wins since 2000. He guided the return of the annual Durley-Nicks Trophy back to the TSU campus after achieving TSU’s first win over Prairie View A&M in the annual Labor Day Classic since 2014. Also, the Tigers won consecutive games to close out the 2024 season which marked the first time that has happened since 1979. Dishman also had to quickly adjust his lineup at key positions early in the season due to several season-ending injuries.
As a team, TSU’s defensive unit finished three spots higher than the previous season in the SWAC while also showing signs of disciplined play as they were the second-least penalized team in the league. Individually, a pair of newcomers earned All-SWAC honors for the Tigers in cornerback MJ Hinson (1st Team) and defensive end Keelan Cox (2nd Team). Hinson led the SWAC in interceptions while Cox was sixth in the SWAC in sacks. The Tigers also had a pair of top-10 tacklers in the SWAC in defensive back Javius Williams (86) and linebacker Umar Yaro (70).
A two-time NFL Pro-Bowl selection, Dishman comes to TSU after 13 successful years in the NFL and 19 years of coaching experience at the collegiate and professional levels. After earning a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Purdue University, he was drafted by the Houston Oilers in 1988. Dishman played spent eight years with the Oilers, two years with the Washington Commanders and Kansas City Chiefs, his final season with the Minnesota Vikings.
Dishman came to TSU after spending the last two seasons as Defensive Coordinator of the XFL's Las Vegas Vipers. Prior to joining the Vipers, he spent the 2022 season as the Defensive Coordinator for the United States Football League's New Jersey Generals. During his lone season with the Generals, the team boasted the top rushing defense in the USFL. His team also ranked second in rushing defense and interceptions, and third in scoring defense.
He has coached defenses at the professional, collegiate, and prep levels. He entered coaching as the Defensive Back Coach for the NFL Europe's Berlin Thunder. He was a Defensive Back Intern for the Oakland Raiders (2005 and 2007), the Miami Dolphins (2006), and Arizona Cardinals (2017). From 2006-2008, he served as the Defensive Coordinator (Secondary) at Menlo College (NCAA Division III). He also served as the Assistant Defensive Back Coach for the San Diego Chargers (2008-2013). During his time with the Chargers, the passing defense improved from 31st in the NFL to 1st. His spent the 2015-2016 season as Safeties Coach at Baylor University. Dishman spent a season as the Defensive Back Coach of the Montreal Alouettes (CFL) before returning to the college ranks as Defensive Back Coach at McNeese State University. He was also the Defensive Back Coach of the XFL's New York Guardians (2019-2020), and he coached some of the top high school prospects as Defensive Coordinator of prep powerhouse IMG Academy.
Dishman and his wife Jennifer have four adult children.
PERSONAL
Birthdate: August 13, 1965
Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky
Family: Wife: Jennifer
Children: 4
EDUCATION
High School: St. Francis DeSales High School, Louisville, Ky.
College: Purdue University ‘88 (B.A. Criminal Justice)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Wide Receiver
St. Francis DeSales HS
Cornerback
Purdue University, 1983-88
Houston Oilers, 1988-96 (NFL)
Washington Redskins,1996-98 (NFL)
Kansas City Chiefs, 1998-99 (NFL)
Minnesota Vikings, 1999-00 (NFL)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2005 Berlin Thunder (DB Coach)
2005 Oakland Raiders (DB Intern)
2006-08 Menlo College (Def. Coordinator)
2006 Miami Dolphins (DB Intern)
2007 Oakland Raiders (DB Intern)
2008-13 San Diego Chargers (Asst. DB)
2015-16 Baylor University (Safeties)
2017 Arizona Cardinals (DB Intern)
2018 Your Call Football (Secondary)
2018 Montreal Alouettes (DB Coach)
2019 McNeese State (Safeties)
2019-20 NY Guardians (DB Coach)
2020-21 IMG Academy (Def. Coordinator)
2022 N.J. Generals (Def. Coordinator)
2022-23 Las Vegas Vipers (Def. Coordinator)
2024- Texas Southern (Head Coach)
