| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 4, 1937 Union, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| c. 1959 | South Carolina State |
| Position(s) | Center |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1968–1971 | North Carolina A&T (DL) |
| 1972 | Pittsburgh (assistant) |
| 1973–1978 | South Carolina State |
| 1979–1983 | Wichita State |
| 1984–1988 | Howard |
| 1989–2001 | South Carolina State |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 180–132–6 (college) 64–8–2 (high school) |
| Bowls | 3–4 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 3 Black college national (1976–1977, 1994) 7 MEAC (1974–1978, 1987, 1994) | |
| Awards | |
| 5× MEAC Coach of the Year (1973, 1976, 1978, 1987, 1992) | |
| College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 2010 (profile) | |
Willie E. Jeffries (born January 4, 1937) is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at South Carolina State University for 19 seasons in two stints, five seasons at Wichita State University, and five seasons at Howard University. Jeffries was the first African American head coach of an NCAA Division I-A football program at a predominantly white college when he coached Wichita State. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010.[1]