Florida A&M football is back on stream.
School Equestrian head coach James Colzie II On Monday, after his second full season, he finished 5-7 in 2025.
Two years removed from a SWAC championship and an HBCU national title, the search begins for a head coach to once again be a Swac Powerhouse.
The hire will be the first major decision of incoming sports director John Davis, which began in January after Angela completed negotiations.
Here are 8 names that should surface in a Florida A&M search:
1. Quinn Gray (head coach, Albany State)
Boz’s continued growth at Albany State and his offensive vein as a former FABU Quarterback make him a candidate to watch. Recruiting ability and player attitudes can translate smoothly to the FCS level. Most recently LED Albany State, a 12-win season and a deep run in the Division II Division.
2. Chennis Berry (South Carolina State Head Coach)
Berry gained national attention by turning Benedict College into a D-II Juggernaut before joining South Carolina State in 2024. In just two seasons as the Bulldogs’ coach, Berry led the program to back-to-back MEAC titles and trips to the state.
3. Trei Oliver (head coach, North Carolina Central)
Oliver has won a meac-strength celebration at North Carolina Central and has consistently turned it around by taking on one of the best defensive fields in the FCS. His proven program-building ability and recruiting success make him a take-home candidate if he was a former Southern assistant.
4. Fred McNair (former head coach, Alcorn State)
The Southern interim coach is one of the most respected coaches in existence. Proven coaching ability leading Alcorn State to a SWAC East championship and a SWAC title.
5. Chris Barnette (Offensive Coordinator, Alabama State)
Barnette brings Alabama State’s offense to life in 2025. The Hornets averaged 39.5 points per game. Known for innovation and adaptability, he served as an offensive assistant at South Carolina State and Winston-Salem State before becoming the offensive coordinator at North Carolina A&T. During his tenure, Meac was a catalyst in the Aggies’ offense, a celebration bowl, and a program that won an HBCU national championship.
6. Maurice Flowers (head coach, Johnson C. Smith)
Flowers has made Johnson C. Smith one of the top programs in the CIAA and Region II football. His ability to rebuild should be a valuable asset to FAMA.
7. Dr. Alvin Parker (Head Coach, Virginia Commonwealth)
Parker, a divisional department of the Commonwealth of Virginia, combined discipline with explosive crime to become a departmental force. The ability to maximize limited resources mirrors what is required to thrive in FCs.
8. Teddy Bridgewater (NFL Quarterback, Florida High School Football Coach)
Bridgewater is a current backup quarterback in the NFL, but spent most of 2024 as a high school football coach in Florida. In his lone season as a coach at Miami Northwest High School, he led the team to a state championship.
In the offseason, he revealed undisclosed HBCU a trainer contacted him for a meeting.
“A new HBCU came to meet with me today, and several NFL teams offered coaching jobs. It’s a cool process, not gonna lie,” x
