Terrell Buckley Named Head Coach Of Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils

The College Football Hall of Famer will take the helm at Itta Bena, Mississippi.

Terrell Buckley was named the new head coach of the Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils football program. His recent coaching experience was 2023 as the XFL’s Orlando Guardians head coach. In 2019, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Buckley as the new head coach of the Mississippi Valley State University football team,” MVSU interim athletic director George Ivory stated. “He brings a winning mindset, a deep commitment to developing our student-athletes both on and off the field and a vision that aligns perfectly with our program’s values.”

Buckley, 53, was an outstanding high school product from his hometown of Pascagoula, Mississippi. He attended Florida State University, where he became an All-American cornerback for the Seminoles. The Green Bay Packers drafted the former All-American as the fifth overall pick in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft.

“We’re going to build a culture of accountability, hard work, and belief – because winning starts with the standards we set and the mindset we bring every single day,” Coach Buckley said.

His deep roots in Mississippi football and extensive experience as a player and coach make him an exciting choice for the university, which has been starving for a winning season in Itta Bena.

Feb 3, 2002; New Orleans, LA, USA; New England Patriots defensive backs Terrell Buckley (27) and Tebucky Jones (34) chase a loose ball during Super Bowl XXXVI against the St. Louis Rams at the Louisiana Superdome. The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17. FILE PHOTO; Mandatory Credit: Imagn Images / RVR Photos-Imagn Images

Impressive Playing and Coaching Background

Buckley’s football journey is exceptional, having won the Jim Thorpe Award for being the nation’s top defensive back. After college, Buckley enjoyed a 14-year NFL career. He recorded 50 interceptions and won a Super Bowl XXXVI with the New England Patriots.

The Delta Devils student-athletes will lean heavily on his valuable insights as someone who played the game at its highest level.

Mar 5, 2023; Arlington, TX, USA; Orlando Guardians head coach Terrell Buckley claps as his team comes off the field after a field goal against the Arlington Renegades during the first half at Choctaw Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images / Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

Coaching Experience

Since retiring from the NFL, Buckley has steadily built his coaching resume:

• He began coaching at his alma mater, Florida State, in various assistant roles from 2007 to 2011.
• Buckley then served as cornerbacks coach at Akron (2012-2013), Louisville (2014-2015), Mississippi State (2016-2019), and Ole Miss (2020-2021).
• In 2022, he took on his first head coaching role with the Orlando Guardians in the XFL.

Jun 12, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; Former NFL player Terrell Buckley stops on the red carpet for photos at the New England Patriots Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Tom Brady at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images / Eric Canha-Imagn Images