Stillman College Announces Return of Football Program, With Teddy Keaton Named Head Coach

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Stillman College marked a momentous occasion as the Tigers announced the return of its football program during a press conference and pep rally on Thursday afternoon.

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In August, Stillman College announced the return of its football program after more than a decade-long hiatus. "Football has a special place in the history and spirit of Stillman College," Stillman College President Dr. Yolanda W. Page said in an August release. "As we celebrate 150 years of educating students and transforming lives, we are also looking boldly toward the next 150 years. The return of football is an opportunity to strengthen the student experience, reconnect generations of Stillman Alumni, and create new energy and opportunities for our campus and the Tuscaloosa community."

On Thursday, former Stillman football head coach Teddy Keaton was announced as the new head football coach and Athletic Director for the Tigers. Keaton, 49, graduated from Stillman College in 2000 and coached the program from 2011 to 2015. He was also the director of football operations and returns to Stillman with 25 seasons of collegiate and professional experience.

“Coach Keaton’s return to Stillman brings together our history and our future. He knows this institution, he understands our students, and he has demonstrated throughout his career that he knows how to build programs. As we bring Tiger football back, we are committed to creating a program that Stillman students, alumni, and this community can stand behind,” Stillman College President Dr. Yolanda W. Page said during the press conference. “Coach Keaton’s return to Stillman brings together our history and our future. “He knows this institution, he understands our students, and he has demonstrated throughout his career that he knows how to build programs. As we bring Tiger football back, we are committed to creating a program that Stillman students, alumni, and this community can stand behind."

Keaton has compiled an 80-61-1 record as a head coach, with stops at Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina, and Clark Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia. Keaton started his coaching career at Stillman, serving as an analyst under Theophilus Danzy from 1999 to 2004. Keaton returned as the head coach in 2011, when he won a share of the SIAC West Division title in his first season as the coach.

Keaton's motto as a choach is "be the reason."

Stillman College is celebrating its 150th anniversary under the theme "Honoring our past, building our future." The renewed football program will create additional opportunities for student-athletes, while reconnecting with former players, alumni, and supporters of the Tigers' athletic programs.

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