SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Alabama A&M University announced today that head football coach Connell Maynor has been relieved of his duties, effective immediately.
Director of Athletics Dr. Paul A. Bryant confirmed the news in a statement on the university’s website, emphasizing that the decision marks a shift in leadership for the football program. “We want to thank Connell Maynor for his seven seasons at Alabama A&M University,” Bryant said. “We wish him well in all his future endeavors.”
A&M plans to launch a national search for its next head coach immediately.
Maynor’s Tenure: A Rollercoaster Journey
When Maynor joined the Bulldogs, the program was in a slump, enduring five straight losing seasons. Under his leadership, the team experienced a turnaround, posting winning records both overall and in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during his first four seasons.
The highlight of his tenure came during the COVID-shortened 2020 spring season, when Alabama A&M went undefeated in four games and secured the conference championship. That season saw running back Jordan Bentley named SWAC Offensive Player of the Year and quarterback Aqeel Glass earn the Deacon Jones Trophy for Black College Football Player of the Year.
However, after the 2020 season, the Bulldogs struggled to regain championship form. They failed to win another SWAC title, particularly as competition intensified with Deion Sanders’ rise at Jackson State and Florida A&M’s resurgence under Willie Simmons.
Maynor’s performance in the Magic City Classic—a marquee rivalry game against Alabama State—also declined. After winning his first four Classics, the Bulldogs lost the next three, often in frustrating late-game collapses.
Industry Reaction
The decision to part ways with Maynor came as little surprise to those familiar with the program.
“I wasn’t surprised when I saw that Maynor was out because you’d heard the rumblings before,” said Darrion Gray, host of the “LockedOn HBCU” podcast. “You kind of got an idea that if he didn’t perform this year, that was going to be the end of his tenure, and he didn’t perform this year. So I can’t claim to be overly shocked.”
Gray further noted that rumors about Maynor’s job security created an unhealthy dynamic for the team. “Once people start asking, ‘Are you going to be here next year?’ you’re in prove-it mode, and it’s way harder to prove it than to just stay consistent,” he said. “I don’t think Maynor handled it well, and I think they gave him a leash. And I think he eventually ate that leash away.”
Longtime Bulldogs broadcaster Ted Dixie shared a similar perspective. “The deal is, if you lose three Magic City Classics in a row, it’s going to be difficult,” Dixie said. “This is the state of Alabama, the home of college football, the most knowledgeable college football fans in the nation. When that happens, you can kind of see the writing on the wall.”
The Decision to Move On
Dr. Bryant, who became athletics director in August 2022, had seen enough to make a change. With 2024 marking either the final or penultimate year of Maynor’s contract, the timing felt appropriate to reset the program.
“Over the last three years, you haven’t had a winning record in conference,” said Gray. “If this was a new idea, or if it was the same A.D., maybe he gets to finish out his contract. But the pressure is there. The grounds, the merit is there.”
What’s Next for A&M?
AAMU declined to provide further comment from school president Daniel Wims on the firing, the coaching search, or the program’s outlook.
However, Dixie emphasized the importance of investing in a high-caliber replacement. “I’m a big spender,” he said. “In the business of college sports, you have to spend money. You have to go with a guy that’s well recognized.”
Dixie already has a candidate in mind: Willie Simmons, the former Florida A&M coach and current running backs coach at Duke. “It’s going to cost you,” Dixie acknowledged. “But if you’re going to change coaches, you have to ask, ‘Who are you going to get and how much are you willing to pay?’”
Alabama A&M’s next move will determine whether the program can return to prominence in the highly competitive SWAC.
(Source: WZDX Fox 54 News)
