Ernest Hawkins (coach)
Biographical details | |
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Born | Lamesa, Texas, U.S. | January 23, 1927
Died | January 28, 2018 Greenville, Texas, U.S. | (aged 91)
Alma mater | Texas Tech University (B.A, 1950), East Texas State (M.S., 1957) |
Playing career | |
Football | |
1947–1949 | Texas Tech |
Position(s) | Paris |
Administrative career ( Paris | |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 132–92–6 (college football) 28–20–1 (junior college football) |
Bowls | 0–0–1 (college) |
Tournaments | Football 3–1 (NAIA D-I playoffs) |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
Football 1 | |
Awards | |
Football 4× LSC Coach of the Year (1966, 1969, 1972, 1983) | |
Ernest Ray Hawkins (January 23, 1927 – January 28, 2018) was an
Early life
Hawkins was born and raised in the West Texas town of Lamesa, Texas and was a standout in football, basketball, and track and field at Lamesa High School.
Texas Tech
After graduating High School in 1944 he enrolled at Texas Tech University. After enrolling, Hawkins joined the military and did not participate in athletics due to World War II. When the war ended, Hawkins returned to school in Lubbock where wartime rules allowed him to compete. A multi-sport athlete, he was a standout on the Tech basketball and track teams, and was the quarterback for the Texas Tech football team from 1947 to 1949. In three seasons as the Red Raiders starting quarterback, he led the Red Raiders to three Border Conference championships and appearances in the Raisin Bowl and Sun Bowl, and was all-conference in the 1948 season. Hawkins graduated from Texas Tech in 1950 at the top of his graduating class.
Paris Junior College
Hawkins and his wife Margaret moved from West Texas to Northeast Texas after he was given the job of head football coach and head basketball coach at Paris Junior College (PJC ) in Paris, Texas. Hawkins compiled a 32–20–1 record as the head football coach and a 39–49 record in basketball. He was also named to the office of athletic director for PJC due to his success on the court and on the field and administrative abilities. While at PJC, Hawkins attended graduate school at East Texas State University (ETSU) in Commerce, Texas, 40 miles southwest of Paris where he graduated from ETSU with a master's degree in 1956.
East Texas State
In 1957 Hawkins was hired by
In the Spring of 1964, Sikes died suddenly, and Hawkins was named successor shortly thereafter. The first two seasons saw the Lions go 2–7 and 4–5, but in only his third year Hawkins and Lions won the 1966 Lone Star Conference championship, his first of four. The Lions repeated as conference champions in 1969 and finished second place in 1968. At the end of the 1971 season, Hawkins had notched a record of 40–37–1 with two conference titles, one second-place finish, and four winning seasons.
1972 season
Heading into the 1972 season, the Lions were picked to finish fourth in the conference, and started out the season with 14–12 loss to rival
1973–1985
After winning the National Championship, Hawkins continued to have success and made East Texas State a contender in the Lone Star Conference. He had six seasons of seven wins or more, and went back to the post season in 1974 against
Notable players coached
Hawkins coached a notable number of future professional football players during his time in Commerce.
- Harvey Martin-Dallas Cowboys, Super Bowl XII MVP, 4 Time All-Pro.
- Dwight White-Pittsburgh Steelers, All Pro, Steelers All-Time Team.
- Wade Wilson-All Pro QB for the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, and Dallas Cowboys, Super Bowl Champion.
- Kyle Mackey-Starting Quarterback for the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins.
- Will Cureton-Starting Quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.
- Autry Beamon-Cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings.
- Tim Collier-Kansas City Chiefs
- Aundra Thompson-Green Bay Packers
- Sam Walton-New York Jets
- Wes Smith-Green Bay Packers
- Mike Trigg-Minnesota Vikings and also in the Arena Football League.
- Jim Thrower-Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles
- Curtis Wester-Cleveland Browns, BC Lions (Canadian Football League).
- Alan Veingrad-Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Super Bowl Champion.
- Rich Houston-New York Giants
Personal life
Hawkins lived in Commerce, Texas, and was active with the football program at A&M-Commerce and also in the Commerce community. His wife, Margaret, died in 2012 after more than 62 years of marriage. The couple had two daughters, Kathy and Lu Anne, and one son, Ray. Hawkins had a health scare in mid-2012 and was hospitalized while contracting West Nile virus, but he was treated and released a week later. Hawkins was often seen attending TAMUC football games and practices and enjoyed fishing, and was a long time member of the First Baptist Church of Commerce. The Field at Memorial Stadium in Commerce was named Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium in 2017 in his honor. Hawkins died on January 28, 2018, in Greenville, Texas, after a brief illness.
Honors
- National Coach of the Year (1972)
- National Champion (1972)
- National Semifinalist (1980)
- 4 Time Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year (1966,1969,1972,1983)
- Texas Tech University Athletic Hall of Honor (1975)
- Texas A&M University Commerce Athletic Hall of Fame (1988)
- Lone Star Conference Athletic Hall of Fame (2004)
Head coaching record
College football
Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
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East Texas State Lions (Lone Star Conference) (1964–1985) | |||||||||
1964 | East Texas State | 2–7 | 1–5 | 5th | |||||
1965 | East Texas State | 4–5 | 2–4 | 5th | |||||
1966 | East Texas State | 5–3–2 | 4–1–2 | 1st | |||||
1967 | East Texas State | 4–6 | 3–4 | T–5th | |||||
1968 | East Texas State | 7–2–1 | 5–1 | 2nd | |||||
1969 | East Texas State | 7–3 | 6–1 | T–1st | |||||
1970 | East Texas State | 5–6 | 4–5 | 5th | |||||
1971 | East Texas State | 6–5 | 5–4 | 5th | |||||
1972 | East Texas State | 10–2 | 7–1 | 1st | W NAIA Division I Championship
| ||||
1973 | East Texas State | 7–4 | 6–3 | 3rd | |||||
1974 | East Texas State | 7–4–1 | 5–4 | 5th | T Central Florida Classic Bowl | ||||
1975 | East Texas State | 8–3 | 6–3 | 4th | |||||
1976 | East Texas State | 5–3–1 | 4–3 | 3rd | |||||
1977 | East Texas State | 7–4 | 4–3 | 5th | |||||
1978 | East Texas State | 4–7 | 2–5 | 7th | |||||
1979 | East Texas State | 5–5 | 5–2 | 2nd | |||||
1980 | East Texas State | 8–3–1 | 4–2–1 | 4th | L NAIA Division I Semifinal
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1981 | East Texas State | 7–4 | 4–3 | 5th | |||||
1982 | East Texas State | 6–4 | 4–3 | 2nd | |||||
1983 | East Texas State | 8–2 | 6–1 | T–1st | |||||
1984 | East Texas State | 5–5 | 1–3 | 4th | |||||
1985 | East Texas State | 5–5 | 2–3 | T–3rd | |||||
East Texas State: | 132–92–6 | 89–74–2 | |||||||
Total: | 132–92–6 | ||||||||
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth |
Junior college football
Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Paris Dragons (Big Six Junior College Conference ) (1952–1953)
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1952 | Paris | 4–6 | 2–2 | 3rd | |||||
1953 | Paris | 6–3 | 1–1 | 2nd | |||||
Paris Dragons (Texas Junior College Conference ) (1954–1956)
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1954 | Paris | 7–3 | 5–0 | 1st | |||||
1955 | Paris | 5–5 | 5–1 | T–1st | |||||
1955 | Paris | 6–3–1 | 4–1 | 2nd | |||||
Paris: | 28–20–1 | 17–5 | |||||||
Total: | 28–20–1 | ||||||||
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth |
References
- ^ "Abilene Christian tops ETSU in coach's finale". The Dallas Morning News. November 24, 1985. Retrieved February 28, 2011.