Deion Sanders, though both the subject of an incredible amount of press and the coach of the 2024 Heisman, has had a hard time being taken seriously as a coach by much of the general public. Despite this, another of his assistants has just taken a head coaching job, begging the question: is it time to take Coach Prime seriously?
News broke Friday that Charles Kelly, who served at Auburn as a co-DC this past year, would be taking the head coaching position at Jacksonville State. Kelly spent a year under Deion Sanders as the Buffaloes’ defensive coordinator.
Kelly marks the third of Deion’s former assistants to take a head coaching job after Sanders’ mentorship; first Sean Lewis, who took the job at San Diego State, and TC Taylor, who took over Sanders’ position at Jackson State.
This begs the question of if it's time to consider Coach Prime in the league of legendary coaches like Nick Saban. After all, Saban’s effects on the game continue to ripple even after his retirement. Two of his former subordinates, Steve Sarkisian and Kirby Smart, faced off in the SEC championship just a few weeks ago.
Admittedly, San Diego State and Jackson State are no Georgia and Texas, though it would be unwise to write off Sanders’ influence on the game just yet. It’s long been noted that coaches have often begun their head coaching careers at smaller schools before transitioning up, after all.
Regardless, Kelly’s announcement makes it crystal clear that not only is Coach Prime building near-playoff contenders and Heisman winners, but he’s also planting the roots of a coaching tree that may long flourish after his time with the Buffaloes comes to an end.