Derrick McCall enters his third season at Lane College. He serves as Assistant Head Coach as well as the Special Teams Coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach.
Prior to Lane, McCall spent ten seasons as an assistant football coach at Jackson State University (JSU). McCall has served in various positions from interim Head Coach, offensive coordinator, wide receivers, and quarterback coach.
During the 2017 campaign McCall was elevated to offensive coordinator after the team got off to a 0-6 start. JSU would finish winning three of their five remaining games and defeating the eastern division champions and archrival Alcorn State. McCall returned to his wide receiver position for the 2018 season but again was promoted to offensive coordinator midway through the season helping lead the team to a 4-2 finish.
In 2015, McCall was named interim head football coach after a 1-6 start. Under McCall’s guidance, JSU finished the season with a 3-1 record. McCall had two wide receivers from the 2015 go on to play professionally: Devin Fosselman (Denver Broncos) and Daniel Williams (New York Jets). Fosselman hauled in 58 passes for 872 yards and five touchdowns, while Williams caught 54 balls for 800 yards and seven touchdowns. During that season, Jairus Moll caught 40 passes for 421 yards and five touchdowns.
The 2014 season saw Daniel Williams became the youngest player in JSU history to record over 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. Williams finished the season with 1,004 yards and nine touchdowns. His nine receiving touchdowns were tied for first place in the SWAC.
McCall served as offensive coordinator from 2012-2014. In his first year as offensive coordinator McCall’s, offense finished 2nd in the conference in total offense with 4819 yards, 43 touchdowns, and 401.6 yards per average. That same season his offense was 2nd in scoring offense with 28.5 points per game for a total of 342 points, 2nd in rushing offense averaging 186.6 yards per game for a total of 2243 yards and 28 TD’s, 3rd in passing offense with 214.7 yards per game for 2576 yards and 15 TD’s. His offense was also 1st in the conference 1st downs, 3rd in 3rd downs and 1st in 4th down situations. That same season wide receiver Rico Richardson (Tennessee Titans) burst onto the scene becoming the first player in the Rick Comegy era to have 60 catches for 1153 yards and 11 TD’s and went on to earn SWAC Player Of The Year honors. Quarterback Clayton Moore was also in the top 3 with total offense with 633 rushing, 11 TD’s and 1863 passing and 15 TD’s all while leading Jackson State to an Eastern Division Championship and SWAC Championship Game.
In 2013, McCall’s offence led the conference in the top three categories while Jackson State won its second consecutive Eastern Division Championship and went on to win the SWAC Championship game. His team was 3rd in total offense with 4507 yards, 36 TD’s and 415.1 yards per game. 3rd in scoring offense 28.8 points per game and 313 points. 4th in rushing offense averaging 194.5 yards per game for a total of 2140 yards and 17 TD’s. His offense was 3rd in 1st downs, 1st in 3rd downs and 1st in 4rh downs. 2013 was the year for Zach Pendleton with 53 catches for 1067 yards and 10 TD’s. Under his continued tutelage Clayton Moore led with total offense 635 yards rushing, 5 TD’s and 2009 yards passing.
McCall coached quarterbacks in 2010. Casey Therriault led Jackson State to an 8-2 record and passed for 3,436 yards and 31 TD’s, as well as 164 yards rushing and 10 TD’s. He was SWAC Newcomer of the year; All SWAC 1st Team; SBN All American; Walter Payton Award Finalist and Conerly Trophy Finalist (Best player in the state of Mississippi).
In 2011, Therriault led Jackson State to a 9-2 record; he passed for a record 3,808 and 27 TD’s; rushed for 174 yards and 11 TD’s. Therriault was the SWAC Player of the Year; Walter Payton Award Nominee; Conerly Trophy Nominee; College Football Performance Award (CFPA) National Quarterback of the week and National Performance of the week; BSN athlete of the week, CFPA SWAC Performer of the week; HBCU All-Star Game participant, and a candidate for 2012 Senior Bowl.
McCall was the wide receivers coach from 2008-2009 at JSU, coaching two all-conference receivers, Anthony Mayes and Marcellos Wilder. McCall was instrumental in leading Jackson State to its second consecutive Eastern Division Championship and SWAC Championship Game in 2008.
In two seasons as associate head coach/offensive coordinator at Shaw University, McCall help lead Shaw to a CIAA Championship and a historic NCAA Division II playoff berth in just two seasons. His Offensive was ranked in the top three of the CIAA. The Bears were 3rd in scoring offense with 24.9 ppg, 3rd in passing offense with 164.2 ypg, 3rd in pass efficiency with 108.0 ypg, second in first down with 185 and fourth in total offense averaging 301.5 ypg.
McCall joined the Bears after a four-year stint at Tuskegee University as the receivers coach. He brought a wealth of knowledge and experience, along with a definite winning background. While at Tuskegee he severed as interim head football coach and was a part of one SIAC Championship and Pioneer Bowl Championship, with three appearances. He coached five all-conference receivers, Harry Williams (Houston Texans), Calvin Russell (Green Bay Packers) were selected in the NFL Draft and Kenneth Henderson New Orleans (Voodoo) Arena Football. Henderson holds several school records, including most receptions in a game (14) against Alabama State and most receptions in a season (78) and was second in career receptions.
McCall coached quarterbacks at Shaw High School (Mobile, AL (1996-97) and assisted the team with advancing to the second round of the playoffs. From 1997-2000, McCall returned to his alma mater Blount High School and became assistant head coach and offensive coordinator, helping the Leopards win the Alabama 5-A State Championship for three consecutive years. He also served as quarterback coach for the Mobile Seagulls Arena Football League (1999-2000) that finished 8-3 with a playoff berth in its inaugural season.
McCall had a successful collegiate career as a quarterback at Jackson State (1979-82); possessing dual threat ability while leading his team to two SWAC Championships and two NCAA Division 1-AA playoff berths. The Mobile, Al, native and M.T Blount High School quarterback (1976-79) was a three year starter, leading his team to their first winning season in 10 years with an 8-3 record and a playoff berth. McCall became the first player in school history and one of the first in the state to rush and pass for over 1000 yards in a single season. He was named the Alabama 6-A Player of the Year and started at quarterback for the South in the 1979 Alabama All-Star Football Game. He was heavily recruited by coaching greats like Paul “Bear” Bryant, Pat Dye, and Barry Switzer.
McCall earned a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Communications with a minor in Management from Spring Hill College in Mobile AL. He is a member of the American Football Coaches Association, Fellowship of Christians Athletes, Mt. Hebron Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama and associate member of New Jerusalem Church, Jackson, Mississippi.
