HBCU football coach secures position in the SEC

Mississippi State University Head football coach, Jeff Lebby, made an announcement on Monday regarding the addition of three new coaches to the coaching staff of the SEC school.

Phil Loadholt will be joining as the Assistant Coach for the Offensive Line, Vincent Dancy will be the Assistant Coach for the Defensive Ends & Outside Linebackers, and Paul Rhoads will serve as the Senior Defensive Analyst.

Notably, Vincent Dancy previously held the position of head coach at HBCU Mississippi Valley State University from 2018 to 2022.

Loadholt and Dancy are set to join the SEC after serving as assistant coaches at Colorado in the 2024 season. During their brief tenure in Boulder, the duo demonstrated their prowess in recruiting top-notch talent and nurturing player development.

Dancy’s defensive ends played a crucial role in the Buffaloes’ success, leading the Big 12 in both sacks and tackles for loss. This impressive performance placed them 13th and 16th in the national rankings for these categories, respectively.

Additionally, Colorado’s defense topped the Big 12 and ranked 12th nationally in Coaches By The Numbers’ Defensive Mayhem rating, which takes into account sacks, tackles for loss, interceptions, and fumbles gained.

Notably, the Buffaloes also possessed the highest pass-rushing grade among all teams in the conference, with two individual pass rushers earning the top grades in the Big 12 for the 2024 season, as recognized by PFF.

Dancy, a talented player from Shuqualak, Mississippi, and a standout at Noxubee County High School, began his coaching career as an analyst on Deion Sanders’ inaugural staff at Colorado in 2023.

After just one year, he was promoted to the position of defensive ends coach. Prior to his time in Boulder, Dancy spent eight seasons as the head coach of an HBCU football team at Mississippi Valley State, with his last five years (2018-2022) spent as the head coach.

In his initial three seasons (2015-2017) with the Delta Devils, he served as the team’s defensive coordinator.

Dancy, a rising star in college coaching, started his coaching career at Jackson State, his HBCU alma mater. He spent five seasons (2009-2013) there before moving to Paine College for a year. Dancy, who was an All-SWAC linebacker at Jackson State from 2002-2005, has now landed a role in the SEC.

Vincent, a native Mississippian and experienced coach within our state, brings with him a strong network and a great deal of respect in our recruiting realm,” Lebby stated. “His connections, recruiting experience, and defensive coaching skills will have an immediate and positive effect on our program. I am excited to welcome him into the Mississippi State Family.”

“Mississippi holds a special place in my heart,” expressed Dancy. “Having grown up here, I am fully aware of the rich defensive tradition at Mississippi State. I am absolutely thrilled to be back in this wonderful state that holds so much significance for me and my family. I am grateful to Coach Lebby for giving me the chance to be a part of his exceptional coaching staff. I am filled with excitement for what the future holds in Starkville.”

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