JACKSON.—Mike DuBose, who joined the Millsaps College football assistant coaching staff in April, has been named head coach of the Millsaps Majors football team.
DuBose was head coach for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide from 1997 to 2000, defensive coordinator in 1996 and assistant coach from 1990 to 1995. He was also assistant coach for Alabama from 1983 to 1986. “I am extremely excited to lead the football program at Millsaps,” DuBose said.
“He is a man of outstanding integrity, and it goes without saying that he has the expertise needed to carry our program to the highest level possible,” said Ron Jurney, Millsaps director of athletics. “Coach DuBose knows our players well, and he also understands the importance of having the proper balance of academics and athletics.”
"We are thrilled to have a topnotch coach with outstanding regional and national credentials on board here at Millsaps College," said Frances Lucas, president of the College.
Departing Head Coach David Saunders has accepted a job with the University of Mississippi as the linebacker coach. “We certainly appreciate Coach Saunders' leadership within our football program,” Jurney said. “He had assembled an outstanding coaching staff, which makes this transition very smooth for Millsaps and its football student-athletes.”
“We have appreciated David's leadership and wish him well as he follows steps to reach his ultimate dream of becoming a Division I Coach,” Lucas said.
“I have some insights on how to build on Coach Saunders' success. And I wish David Saunders luck at Ole Miss,” DuBose said.
Named Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year in 1999, DuBose led the Tide to an SEC Championship and an Orange Bowl appearance in 2000.
Noted by several publications as an outstanding recruiter in his 25 years of coaching, which has included stops in the NFL, collegiate ranks and high school, DuBose was the first native Alabamian to lead the Crimson Tide in the modern era, since Paul (Bear) Bryant. Having played for Bryant in three bowl games, DuBose served as a graduate assistant for the Tide in 1975.
In 13 years of coaching at the University of Alabama, DuBose served as defensive line coach, defensive coordinator and head coach.
A native of Opp, Ala., Dubose was a standout athlete for Opp High School, earning four varsity letters. While with the Tide as a player from 1972 to 1974, DuBose, a defensive lineman, led his teams to three SEC Championships, three bowl games and a national championship in 1973.
DuBose remained at Alabama when Ray Perkins arrived as head coach, and he followed Perkins to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1987 and coached the defensive line for three seasons before returning to Alabama in 1990 under new Head Coach Gene Stallings.
DuBose's defense was ranked eighth or better against the run a total of four times, including the nation's best rushing defense in the 1992 national championship season. The Tide allowed just 55.0 yards per game on the ground to lead the nation. DuBose has supplied the NFL with five first-round selections, five first-team All-Americans and 10 All-SEC team selections players.
Born Jan. 5, 1953, DuBose is married to the former Polly Ann Martin, his high school sweetheart. They have two children, Juli Ann, an Alabama graduate, and Michael Jr. Juli Ann DuBose is married to G. W. Keller, an All-American baseball player at Alabama, and they have one son, Will.
