Prairie View A&M announced on Sunday evening that it would not renew head football coach Bubba McDowell's expiring contract. The move surprised some, while others felt the former Houston Oilers great was on tenuous ground since Anton Goff was named Director of Athletics before the 2023 season began.

Heading into the 2024 campaign, McDowell led the Panthers to consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division championships. However, Goff decided to take the program in a different direction after PVAMU posted a 5-7 overall record and a 3-5 mark in conference.

Despite a 14-10 record against SWAC opposition during his three seasons, an offense that continually struggled to gain traction ultimately led to McDowell’s demise. PVAMU averaged 19.5 points per game in 2023 and slightly improved that mark to 21 this season. The Panther offense produced 20 points or less against five SWAC foes this year, leading to a 1-4 record in those contests.

According to multiple sources, PVAMU will seek to find the best person for the position instead of favoring an offensive-minded coach. Sources also indicate the Panthers are searching for a coach who is not currently at a SWAC institution. As for timing, other sources indicate PVAMU hopes to have a candidate selected before the end of December. With that in mind, here are four potential candidates for the next PVAMU head coach.

Fred McNair, Southern tight end coach

Often referred to as the original “Air” McNair after a stellar Arena Football League career, the older brother of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair spent last season at Southern after leading Alcorn State for eight years. McNair was 48-33 overall and 37-17 against SWAC schools with the Braves and led the program to four SWAC East titles and two appearances in the Celebration Bowl while twice being named SWAC Coach of the Year.

While McNair is currently at a SWAC school, sources indicate he could be the one possible exception. McNair was a candidate for the Texas Southern opening but could not get confirmed by the school’s Board of Regents in three attempts. He would likely jump at a chance to lead TSU’s rival in the Labor Day Classic next year.

Tremaine Jackson, Valdosta State head coach

On the surface, a 27-8 overall record in three seasons is impressive. But once you dig a bit further and see that Jackson has led the Blazers to a 22-2 record the last two seasons and a 10-0 mark this year while being the top seed in Super Region Two of the NCAA Division II playoffs and a favorite to reach the national championship game in McKinney, you see why this man is one of the hottest non-FBS head coaches.

Jackson has led Valdosta to consecutive Gulf South championships and made the quarterfinals last year. He was 8-3 in his lone complete season as head coach at Colorado Mesa. Jackson also has ties to the SWAC, having spent 2008-2011 with TSU, where he was the defensive coordinator in his final year.

K.J. Black, Atlanta Falcons offensive assistant

Black is a familiar name to PVAMU fans and turned a 2022 fellowship with the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship into a full-time job. He spent two seasons as an offensive assistant with the Los Angeles Rams before assuming the same role with the Atlanta Falcons last February. 

PVAMU fans remember when Black led the 2009 squad to the program’s first SWAC title appearance since 1964 as quarterback. He was named SWAC Offensive Player of the Year that season and began his coaching career with his alma mater in 2011. After spending seven seasons on the PVAMU staff, Black moved to Florida A&M, where he was co-offensive coordinator, passing game coordinator, and quarterbacks coach for three years before heading to the NFL.

Ray Lewis, NFL Hall of Fame linebacker

Reports emerged last week that the former Baltimore Raven linebacker was interested in entering the collegiate coaching ranks at Florida Atlantic University. However, sources indicate the greatest linebacker in NFL history may need to follow the path of another NFL great, Deion Sanders, who was head coach at Jackson State before moving on to Colorado. If that’s the case, there aren’t many places in the SWAC with the facilities and proximity to a high school football hotbed in Houston as PVAMU, which could make the job attractive to Lewis.

Van Malone, Kansas State assistant head coach, defensive passing game coordinator, and cornerbacks coach

An intriguing name to watch is Malone, who is in his fifth season with the Wildcats. Many football fans remember Malone from his days as a defensive back at Texas before the Detroit Lions drafted him in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft. 

After retiring due to injury, Malone began coaching at his alma mater, Houston Waltrip High School, in 1999. He was named Houston High School Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year in 2000. Malone entered the collegiate ranks, stopping at North Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, SMU, and Mississippi State before joining Kansas State. Sources indicate his resume will be attractive to the PVAMU administration.