ITTA BENA — With deep sadness, we announce the passing of Doug Porter, a distinguished former head coach at Mississippi Valley State University, on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at 94.
Coach Porter was a monumental figure in college football, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of countless students, athletes, and colleagues throughout his illustrious career. His tenure at Mississippi Valley State University from 1961 to 1965 laid the foundation for his legacy, where he achieved a record of 21-19, inspiring and mentoring young athletes to reach their full potential.
A funeral service to honor Coach Porter's life and legacy will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Grambling. We invite all those whose lives were touched by Coach Porter to join us in paying tribute to his remarkable life.
In this time of mourning, let us also celebrate Coach Porter's profound and positive impact on our community and the world of college football. His excellence, dedication, and compassion legacy will forever remain in our hearts.
Beyond Mississippi Valley State, Coach Porter's influence extended to Howard University and Fort Valley State University, where his coaching and leadership were celebrated and revered. As an assistant coach under Eddie Robinson at Grambling State University and later as an adviser, Coach Porter played a pivotal role in establishing the Eddie G. Robinson Museum, preserving the rich history and contributions of HBCU football.
From Memphis, Tennessee, Porter played quarterback at Xavier of Louisiana and served in the U.S. Army before getting into coaching. He began his college coaching career at Mississippi Valley State, going 21-19 from 1961 to '65, spent nine seasons at Grambling with Robinson, then was 30-21-2 at Howard from 1974 to '78.
"Doug Porter was a remarkable person, crafting an impressive career in coaching and athletics administration among the HBCU ranks," National Football Foundation chairman Archie Manning said. "A great football mind, he was a top-flight recruiter who cared deeply about his players and put them in a position to succeed."
Porter's wife, Dr. Wilma Jean Porter, died in 2017.
Coach Porter's accolades include being a seven-time Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, chairman of the Division II Football Committee, and president of the National Athletic Steering Committee. His extraordinary contributions to the sport were recognized with his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Fort Valley State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story)
