JOURNAL SPORTS
GRAMBLING — The offensive coordinator vacancy on the Grambling State football staff cropped up two weeks before the start of preseason practice, but head football coach Mickey Joseph didn’t sound alarmed.
Monday it became apparent that as widely speculated, Joseph had an ace in his hand, when he announced the addition of former Tigers standout quarterback Bruce Eugene as quarterbacks coach and pass game coordinator. Joseph, a former star quarterback at Nebraska in the Cornhuskers’ glory days, has been heavily involved in the Tigers’ offense in his first two seasons as head coach, and will apparently continue to run the show but Eugene’s impact should be significant.
“Bruce is a special addition to our coaching staff because he understands what it means to be a quarterback at Grambling State,” Joseph said. “He has been in that position, he has had tremendous success at this level, and he understands the expectations that come with playing quarterback at Grambling. His knowledge of the position, his experience and his passion for this university will be tremendous assets for us. We are excited to welcome Bruce back home.”
A native of New Orleans, Eugene played at GSU from 2001-05 and became one of the most prolific quarterbacks in Football Championship Subdivision history. He earned Southwestern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors twice during his career and was a three-time finalist for the Walter Payton Award, presented annually to the top offensive player in the FCS.
Eugene finished with 13,580 career passing yards and 140 touchdown passes. He also led the Tigers to four HBCU National titles and four SWAC championships during his career. He also earned SWAC Championship Game Most Valuable Player honors, Bayou Classic MVP honors and the Doug Williams Award.
His 2005 senior season stands among the most prolific individual seasons in FCS history. Eugene passed for 4,360 yards and 56 touchdowns while throwing only six interceptions, leading Grambling to an 11-1 record and a SWAC championship.
Following his playing career, Eugene transitioned into coaching. He began his collegiate coaching career at Alcorn State in 2011, serving as the Braves’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under former Grambling head coach Melvin Spears.
Eugene added to an impressive coaching résumé working in New York City’s Public Schools Athletic League. He was with several programs as a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator before becoming the head football coach at Grand Street Campus in Brooklyn.
In 2015, Eugene guided Grand Street Campus to a 13-0 record and the PSAL Championship Division title, earning recognition as the New York Jets High School Coach of the Year. He became the first African-American head coach to win in the highest division in New York City.
He also served as coach at Locust Grove High School in Atlanta in the last two seasons, leading the Wildcats to their first region championship.
Eugene was working as a scouting assistant with Syracuse University football, joining the program in January.