Football
- Title:
- Running Backs
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A member of Kevin Sumlin’s first coaching staff at Houston, Clarence McKinney is in his sixth year of overseeing the Aggies’ running back corps.
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Despite leaning on a pair of newcomers at running back in 2016, the Aggies produced the one of the greatest rushing seasons in the last 20 years at Texas A&M. Trayveon Williams surpassed the 1,000-yard mark with 1,057 yards, while Keith Ford chipped in 669 yards as the Aggies’ rushing attack averaged 5.7 yards per carry and produced 211.8 yards per game.
In 2015, the Aggies’ running back corps produced its first 1,000-yard rusher of the McKinney era when Tra Carson rushed for 1,165 yards, which included seven 100-yard rushing games.
Using a balanced rotation running backs in 2014, the Aggies’ trio of runners averaged over five yards per carry while combining for 1,520 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.
In addition to his running back coach duties, McKinney served as the Aggies’ offensive coordinator and play-caller for the 2013 Cotton Bowl and the 2013 regular season. Under his direction, the Aggies led the SEC in passing, scoring and total offense, while setting school records for passing yards, touchdowns and completion percentage.
Under McKinney’s direction in 2012, the Aggies’ top three running backs combined for more than 1,600 yards while averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Combined with quarterback Johnny Manziel, A&M’s rushing attack was the best in the SEC and was the school’s most productive ground game in more than 20 seasons.
Prior to coming to Texas A&M, McKinney served as Houston’s??recruiting??coordinator,??in addition to overseeing the Cougar running backs. His four-year stay at Houston was highly successful as the Cougars compiled a 36-17 record and played in three bowl games. UH posted double-digit wins twice during his stay, including 2011’s school-record 13 victories and bowl triumph over Penn State.
UH’s 2011 campaign enjoyed the strong play of running back Charles Sims, who gained 7.5 yards per carry on his way to 821 yards while grabbing 51 passes for 575 yards. In 2010, McKinney tutored Bryce Beall to first-team all-C-USA honors. Beall and Michael Hayes combined for 1,499 yards and 20 touchdowns. In 2009, Sims earned a spot on the C-USA All-Freshman Team after averaging 4.92 receptions per game, ranking third among FBS receiving running backs.
During his first year at Houston in 2008, McKinney guided Beall to C-USA Freshman of the Year honors after becoming the first freshman in UH history to rush for more than 1,000 yards. Beall also was named the MVP of the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl after rushing for 135 yards and one touchdown in a 34-28 win over Air Force.
Prior to joining Sumlin’s staff at UH, McKinney served as head football coach at Jack Yates High School, compiling a winning record of 30-8 in three seasons. While at Yates he received several accolades, including being named a 2006 Gordon Wood 4A Coach of the Year Finalist and a 2007 Texans Coach of the Year Finalist.
McKinney also served as an assistant football coach at North Shore High School (2003-05) and Booker T. Washington High School (1997-2003) where he was named the 2003 Houston Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year. Under his leadership as head and assistant coach, McKinney helped many young men to receive scholarships to NCAA Division I schools and pursue their dreams of playing in the NFL.
McKinney played football three seasons at Montana State, before transferring to University of Mary where he received his degree in elementary education. He later earned a master’s in educational administration from Prairie View A&M in 2002.
McKinney and his wife, Jakmica, have three children, Britney, Atallah and Quran.
(08-2017)
