| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Assistanthead coach &defensive coordinator |
| Team | Clark Atlanta |
| Conference | SIAC |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | (1956-01-03)January 3, 1956 (age 69) Springfield, Ohio, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1975–1979 | Nebraska |
| 1980 | New York Jets* |
| 1981–1982 | Austin Texans |
| 1982 | Boston Breakers |
| Positions | Defensive end,outside linebacker,strong safety |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1982 (spring) | Southwest Texas State (GA) |
| 1982 | Nebraska (DE) |
| 1983–1984 | New Mexico State (OLB) |
| 1985 | Ball State (DE) |
| 1986 | Kansas State (DE) |
| 1987 | Kansas State (OLB) |
| 1988–1989 | Wisconsin (OLB) |
| 1990 | Toledo (RB) |
| 1991–1992 | Morgan State (DC) |
| 1993 | Eastern Michigan (ST/RB) |
| 1994–1995 | Cincinnati (AHC/RB) |
| 1996–1999 | Tennessee State |
| 2000–2002 | Alabama State |
| 2004 | Concordia–St. Paul (AHC/DC) |
| 2005 | Lane (DC) |
| 2006–2007 | Sidney Lanier HS (AL) |
| 2008 | Texas Southern (DC) |
| 2009–2010 | Stillman |
| 2011 | Concordia (AL) (DC) |
| 2012–2013 | Wilcox Central HS (AL) |
| 2014 | Central HS (AL) (DC) |
| 2015–2016 | Fairfield Prep (AL) |
| 2018–2019 | Loachapoka HS (AL) |
| 2020–2021 | Park Crossing HS (AL) |
| 2022–2023 | Allen (AHC/DC/ST) |
| 2024–present | Clark Atlanta (AHC/DC) |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 2006–2007 | Sidney Lanier HS (AL) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 41–48 (college; 14 wins vacated) 42–67 (high school) |
| Tournaments | 0–2 (NCAA D-I-AA playoffs) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 2OVC (1998–1999) | |
| Awards | |
| 2×OVC Coach of the Year (1998–1999) | |
Lawrence "L. C."Cole (born January 3, 1956)[1] is an Americancollege football coach and former player. He is the assistanthead coach anddefensive coordinator forClark Atlanta University, positions he has held since 2024.[2] He was the head football coach forTennessee State University from 1996 to 1999,Alabama State University to 2000 to 2002,Sidney Lanier High School from 2006 to 2007,Stillman College from 2009 to 2010,Wilcox Central High School from 2012 to 2013,Fairfield High Preparatory School from 2015 to 2016,Loachapoka High School from 2018 to 2019, andPark Crossing High School from 2020 to 2021.
After a successful, but controversial, stint as head coach atAlabama State University, Cole revived the storied football program at Montgomery, Alabama'sSidney Lanier High School; during Cole's two years at Lanier, the Poets won the City Championship each year, and they never lost to a city opponent. Lanier reached the state playoffs each year, making it to the quarterfinals in 2006. On December 3, 2008, Cole was announced asStillman College's third head coach since the reinstatement of the program in 1999 in replacingGreg Thompson.[3] Following the 2010 season, Cole was fired as head coach, and replaced with Stillman alumnusTeddy Keaton.[4]
Cole playedhigh school football fromDunbar High School where he was also an All-American.[5] From 1975 to 1979, he playedcollege football forNebraska underTom Osborne as adefensive end. He was a team captain and an All-Pac-8 selection in his senior season.[5]
In 1980, after going undrafted in the1980 NFL draft, Cole signed with theNew York Jets of theNational Football League (NFL) as anoutside linebacker andstrong safety.[6] Before the season Cole suffered a shoulder injury and was released.
In 1981, Cole signed with theAustin Texans, a minor league team inTexas that was a member of theAmerican Football Association (AFA).[7] Before signing with the Texans, the team has given up a league-worst 420.7 yards and 40.8 points per game. In his first game, he helped hold theSan Antonio Charros to just 249 yards and just 25 yards on 26 carries.[8]
In 1982, Cole signed with theBoston Breakers of theUnited States Football League (USFL).[9]
In 1982, Cole began his coaching career as agraduate assistant forSouthwest Texas State.[10] Before signing with the Boston Breakers in the fall of 1982, he served as a part-time defensive ends coach at his alma mater, Nebraska, under his head coach Tom Osborne.[11] In 1983, he was hired as the outside linebackers coach forNew Mexico State.[11] He helped coach two future NFL draft picks: linebackersFredd Young andLeo Barker.[12] In 1985, he was hired by first-year head coachPaul Schudel atBall State as his defensive ends coach.[5][10] In 1986, Cole moved toKansas State as the defensive ends coach underStan Parrish.[13] He transitioned to outside linebackers in 1987.[14] In 1988, he accepted a similar position withWisconsin.[15] In 1990, he accepted his first position as an offensive coach as he was hired as therunning backs coach forToledo.[16]
In 1991, Cole was among the final candidates for the head coaching position atMorgan State after the departure ofEd Wyche. Instead, the job went toRicky Diggs. After returning to Toledo to coach running backs, Cole was approached by Diggs with the offer of becoming thedefensive coordinator for Morgan State. Cole accepted his first coordinator position under Diggs.[17] After the 1992 season, Diggs was under fire and 66 of the team's players signed a petition for his dismissal and Cole was frequently named as the preferred successor.[18] Diggs was ultimately not removed from his post and he dismissed Cole entirely.[19] In 1993, Cole was hired as the running backs coach and special teams coordinator forEastern Michigan.[20] In 1994, he joined Cincinnati as assistant head coach and running backs coach.[citation needed]
After two seasons with Cincinnati, Cole was hired as the head football coach forTennessee State. He hired his brother,Johnnie, as hisoffensive coordinator.[21] In his first season, he helped improve the team from a 2–9 record in 1995 to a 4–7 in 1996.[22] During the 1997 season and into the 1998 season, Cole and his brother were both under investigation by theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for violations.[23] During the 1998 season, both of them were suspended for the team's homecoming game. Tennessee State self-imposed the suspension in hopes of reducing potential future sanctions by the NCAA.[24] Despite the suspension, Cole and Tennessee State finished the season with a 9–3 record and a trip to theNCAA Division I-AA playoffs, their best season since 1986.[25] In 1999, the details of the NCAA violations were released. The allegations were that either Cole brother provided transportation, tickets, and cash to a player alongside contacting players from other schools prior to receiving written permission from the schools. It was also revealed that Tennessee State had admitted two athletes who competed under false names along with every football player receiving monetary compensation for making it to the playoffs.[26] Johnnie had been suspended from his duties since 1998, while L. C. remained as head coach, but was later alleged to have provided false and misleading information during the NCAA's investigation.[27][28] Despite all the investigations and allegations, Cole helped lead Tennessee State to an unbeaten regular season and their second-straightOhio Valley Conference (OVC) title.[29] He resigned after the 1999 season amidst the turmoil. His career coaching record at Tennessee State was 28–18.[30]
In 2000, Cole was hired as the head football coach forAlabama State. He joined a program that was in the process of attempting to move from the NCAA Division I-AA level to theNCAA Division I-A level.[31] In his inaugural season, his team went 6–5, their best since 1995.[32] In 2001, Alabama State finished 8–4 and earned a trip to theSouthwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championship game.[33] During the 2002 and 2003 seasons, Cole and the school he coached for came under fire by the NCAA and were once again investigated.[34] Cole was placed on unpaid administrative leave prior to the 2003 season.[35] He was officially fired in December 2003.
After not coaching in 2003 due to the investigation, Cole was hired as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator forConcordia–St. Paul.[36] In 2004, Cole rejoined his brother, this time as his assistant atLane.[37] While awaiting the NCAA's ruling, Cole took another head coaching job, this time, forSidney Lanier High School. He also served as the school'sathletic director.[38] He inherited a team that finished 1–8 in 2005 with 36 players, and finished 7–5 in first season while growing the team to almost 60 players.[39] One of Cole's assistant coaches, Craig Payne, was accused of exposing himself to two players, but no charges were filed.[40] After initially being reported that Cole was fired after the season, the school ultimately renewed his contract.[41] He finished his second season with a 3–7 record before rejoining his brother, who was now the head football coach forTexas Southern, as his defensive coordinator.[42]
Cole and his wife, Mitzi,[43] have one son together. His wife was born inMadison, Wisconsin. His son is fromNashville, Tennessee. His parents are Ruby Cole and Timothy Cole. He was the fourth of nine brothers;[43] includingJohnnie, who was the head football coach forLane andTexas Southern.[21]
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Rank# | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee State Tigers(Ohio Valley Conference)(1996–1999) | |||||||||
| 1996 | Tennessee State | 4–7 | 3–5 | T–6th | |||||
| 1997 | Tennessee State | 4–7 | 4–3 | T–4th | |||||
| 1998 | Tennessee State | 9–3 | 6–1 | 1st | LNCAA Division I-AA First Round | 12 | |||
| 1999 | Tennessee State | 11–1 | 7–0 | 1st | L NCAA Division I-AA First Round | 11 | |||
| Tennessee State: | 28–18 | 20–9 | |||||||
| Alabama State Hornets(Southwestern Athletic Conference)(2000–2002) | |||||||||
| 2000 | Alabama State | 0–5 (6–5) | 0–2 (5–2) | T–1st(Eastern) | |||||
| 2001 | Alabama State | 0–4 (8–4) | 0–1 (6–1) | 1st(Eastern) | |||||
| 2002 | Alabama State | 6–6 | 2–5 | 5th(Eastern) | |||||
| Alabama State: | 6–15 (20–15) | 2–8 (13–8) | |||||||
| Stillman Tigers(Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)(2009–2010) | |||||||||
| 2009 | Stillman | 4–7 | 2–7 | 9th | |||||
| 2010 | Stillman | 3–8 | 2–7 | T–8th | |||||
| Stillman: | 7–15 | 4–14 | |||||||
| Total: | 41–48 (55–48) | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney Lanier Poets()(2006–2007) | |||||||||
| 2006 | Sidney Lanier | 7–5 | 5–2 | 2nd | |||||
| 2007 | Sidney Lanier | 3–7 | 3–4 | 4th | |||||
| Sidney Lanier: | 10–12 | 8–6 | |||||||
| Wilcox Central Jaguars()(2012–2013) | |||||||||
| 2012 | Wilcox Central | 3–11 | 2–8 | 7th | |||||
| 2013 | Wilcox Central | 3–7 | 2–5 | 6th | |||||
| Wilcox Central: | 6–18 | 4–13 | |||||||
| Fairfield Prep Tigers()(2015–2016) | |||||||||
| 2015 | Fairfield Prep | 7–4 | 3–4 | 5th | |||||
| 2016 | Fairfield Prep | 7–5 | 5–2 | 3rd | |||||
| Fairfield Prep: | 14–9 | 8–6 | |||||||
| Loachapoka Indians()(2018–2019) | |||||||||
| 2018 | Loachapoka | 4–5 | 2–4 | 5th | |||||
| 2019 | Loachapoka | 4–6 | 2–4 | 5th | |||||
| Loachapoka: | 8–11 | 4–8 | |||||||
| Park Crossing Thunderbirds()(2020–2021) | |||||||||
| 2020 | Park Crossing | 4–7 | 2–4 | 5th | |||||
| 2021 | Park Crossing | 0–10 | 0–7 | 8th | |||||
| Park Crossing: | 4–17 | 2–11 | |||||||
| Total: | 42–67 | ||||||||