Rockey Felker (1997) - Hall of Fame

Rockey Felker

Induction:
1997
Class:
1974

Rockey Felker played football at Mississippi State from 1975-78. He later served as the program's head coach (1986-90) and had multiple stints as an assistant, director of operations, and director of player personnel until his retirement in 2017.

Felker's first association with Mississippi State came in December 1970, when he signed a football scholarship to play quarterback for the Bulldogs. After playing one year of freshman ball, he was under center for most of the following three seasons. In 1974, Felker led MSU to a 9-3 overall record, leading the SEC in total offense and directing the Bulldogs to a win over North Carolina in the Sun Bowl. He was named the Nashville Banner SEC Player of the Year and the Birmingham Post-Herald Outstanding Senior Player for his stellar final season.

Felker was the nation's youngest collegiate head coach – at age 33 – when he was selected to guide the MSU football program in 1986. He directed the Bulldogs to a 6-5 mark in his first season at the helm, the school's first winning season in five years. Felker's team won road games at Syracuse and at defending SEC champion Tennessee during that '86 season, and he became the first State head football coach to post a winning record in his initial season since the legendary Darrell Royal in 1954. Felker served as State's head football coach through the 1990 season.

Following his five years as head coach at MSU, Felker worked nine more years as an assistant coach. He had two terms as the offensive coordinator at the University of Tulsa (1991-92 and 1997-99) and spent four years on the coaching staff at the University of Arkansas, working three seasons (1994-96) as the school's offensive coordinator.

Felker is married to the former Susan Tingle and they have three sons: Jay, David and Stephen.