Slater leaves Tuskegee second on the all-time wins list at the HBCU with the most wins in black college football history. The NCAA officially lists the Golden Tigers with 699 collegiate victories, but has not given Tuskegee credit for four forfeit victories assigned over the years, thus giving Tuskegee an unofficial tally of 703 victories. Slater has a 121-47 record at Tuskegee, his only collegiate head coaching job. His 16 years and 121 victories only trail Cleve Abbott (203-96-28 in 32 seasons) in the history of this storied program. Slater’s win percentage of .720 (121-47, 16 seasons) places him third behind Rick Comegy (90-26, .776 in 10 seasons) and LeRoy Smith (42-13-3, .750 in 6 seasons).
Slater Out as Head Coach at Tuskegee
A.D. Drew • December 22, 2021
SLATER OUT AS HEAD COACH AT TUSKEGEE
Photo Credit: alabamanewscenter.com
December 22, 2021
A.D. Drew | Black College Sports Network
After 16 seasons on the sidelines for Tuskegee University and also in the position of Director of Athletics since 2017, Willie Slater is no longer the Golden Tigers Head Football Coach. Yesterday, Tuskegee University announced that Reginald Ruffin of Miles College will become the new head coach and new Director of Athletics for Tuskegee. Earlier this month, Tuskegee University also began its search for an athletic director. Ruffin leaves the Golden Bears as their all-time winningest head coach, with a 59-39 record, and their leader in winning percentage at .602. Ruffin’s nine years on the sideline are two years more than any other Golden Bear Head Coach. Cecil Leonard (1994-2001) and Wade Streeter (2001-2008) spent seven years in Fairfield, AL leading Tuskegee’s SIAC West rival. Ruffin was Slater’s defensive coordinator and linebacker coach at Tuskegee from 2006-2010.
Slater’s team accomplishments at Tuskegee include 5 Black College National Championships (2007 undisputed), 4 Pioneer Bowl appearances (2006, 2007, 2009, 2012), 4 NCAA Football Playoff appearances (2013, 2014, 2015 quarterfinals, 2016 2nd round), 7 SIAC Championships (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2017), and 9 SIAC West Division titles (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017).
His individual accomplishments at Tuskegee include The Pigskin Club of Washington, DC and the Sheridan Broadcasting Network National Coach of the Year in 2007, and 5-time SIAC Coach of the Year (2007, 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2014). Slater has coached two American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-Americans during his tenure at Tuskegee in Matthew Reece (2013) and Jewell Ratliff (2015). Slater has had more than 60 All-SIAC selections during the tenure of Willie Slater, which ranks him first among Tuskegee coaches.
The 65-year old Coffeeville, Alabama native, is in the University of West Alabama (formerly Livingston University) Hall of Fame (inducted 2014) as a player. Slater was a four-year starter at quarterback for the Tigers from 1974-77, helping lead UWA to the 1975 NCAA playoffs and a victory over top ranked North Dakota. Slater led the Tigers in rushing for three consecutive seasons (1975-77) and his 20 touchdowns scored is 10th on the UWA all-time list. He is still ninth on the all-time Tiger rushing list with 1,582 yards.
As an assistant coach on the collegiate level, Slater is the owner of five national championship rings and seven conference championship rings. His coaching career started at Troy University (Troy State University), where he spent eight years (1983-90) as an assistant. Troy won two NCAA Division II national championships, in 1984 and 1987. He then went to his alma mater, the University of West Alabama, for two seasons (1991-92). The next stop was the University of North Alabama. The Lions won three NCAA Division II titles (1993, 1994, 1995). Slater, a five-time NCAA Division II National Assistant Coach of the Year, was at Jacksonville State from 2000 to 2003. Slater then left the State of Alabama to coach at the Division I level, where he became the offensive coordinator at Temple University, from 2004 to 2005, before coming to Tuskegee.
