Rockey Felker
Coordinator of Football Operations
May 25, 2016 | Football
 |
PERSONAL |
| Born: February 1, 1953 Birthplace: Jackson, TN Married: former Susan Tingle Children: sons Jay, David and Stephen College: Mississippi State, 1975 |
| PLAYING CAREER |
* Starting quarterback at MSU * Named Nashville Banner SEC Player of the Year and honorable mention all-American after leading the SEC in total offense in 1974 * A 10th-round draft pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1975 |
| COACHING CAREER |
* 1975-78: Receivers/Running Backs Coach, Mississippi State University * 1979-80: Assistant Coach, Texas Tech University * 1981-82: Assistant Coach, Memphis State University * 1983-85: Assistant Coach, University of Alabama * 1986-90: Head Coach, Mississippi State University * 1991-92: Offensive Coordinator, University of Tulsa * 1993-96: Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator, University of Arkansas * 1997-99: Offensive Coordinator, University of Tulsa * 2002-: Coordinator of Football Operations, Mississippi State University |
| NOTABLE | Starting quarterback for the Bulldogs while lettering three seasons at State...Named Nashville Banner SEC Player of the Year and honorable mention all-America after leading the SEC in total offense in 1974...Also led State to a 26-24 win over North Carolina in the Sun Bowl that year...A 10th-round draft pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1975 NFL draft...Mississippi State's head coach from 1986-90...Led MSU to a 27-23 upset win over defending SEC champion Tennessee in his second game as coach. |
It was indeed a sweet homecoming when former Mississippi State head football coach Rockey Felker was hired by current head coach Jackie Sherrill as coordinator of football operations in the spring of 2002, bringing one of the most loved Bulldog personalities back to his alma mater.
Felker was the nation's youngest collegiate head coach 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 Southeastern Conference 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, immediately preceding the current 12-year tenure of Sherrill.
He came back to State as the school's head coach following 11 years as an assistant coach on the collegiate level. Immediately prior to rejoining the MSU program, he was an assistant at Alabama from 1983-85. He served as the Crimson Tide receivers coach in 1983-84 and the offensive backfield coach in '85. During his stay in Tuscaloosa, he helped Alabama to postseason bowl wins over Southern Methodist ('83 Sun Bowl) and Southern California ('85 Aloha Bowl).
Prior to returning to the SEC, Felker worked two years each at Texas Tech (1979-80) and Memphis State (1981-82) under the guidance of the late head coach Rex Dockery.
Felker began his coaching career at Mississippi State following his playing days, working for head coach Bob Tyler. He worked with the junior varsity (1975) and the varsity receivers, quarterbacks and running backs (1976-78).
A native of Jackson, Tenn., Felker was a five-sport letterman at Brownsville (Tenn.) High School, earning all-state honors in football under the tutelage of his father, Edwin "Babe" Felker, an assistant coach at the school.
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 next 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.
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.
He helped Tulsa to a 10-2 record in 1991, coaching the quarterbacks and wide receivers. That Golden Hurricane team defeated San Diego State in the Freedom Bowl during that season. He also tutored the running backs during his stay at the Western Athletic Conference school.
While at Arkansas, Felker coached the running backs in 1993, then tutored the quarterbacks the next three years. He helped the Razorbacks win the SEC Western Division title and earn a berth in the '95 SEC Championship Game. The Razorbacks concluded that season with a bid to the Carquest Bowl in Miami, Fla.
Felker, a 1975 graduate of MSU, worked in private business before returning to MSU.
