As he approaches his fifth different decade with an association to Mississippi State football, Rockey Felker is living proof that persistence, loyalty and hard work pay dividends. Felker played at Mississippi State in the 1970s, served as head coach from 1986-1990 and returned to the Bulldog staff in 2004.

Head coach Dan Mullen has directed Felker with a new charge, serving as Coordinator of Player Personnel and High School Relations. It will be Felker’s second stint in an off-field role, having served as the staff’s coordinator of football operations for both Jackie Sherrill and Sylvester Croom. For the last two seasons, Felker tutored the Bulldog running backs, helping guide Anthony Dixon to nearly 2,000 yards in those two years.

In his current capacity, Felker works with current players on team policies and procedures, serves as the staff liaison with former players and parents, and directs the summer coach’s clinic. He maintains contact and positive relationships with all high school and junior college coaches, and assists with the on-campus recruiting administration.

Felker, 56, was the nation’s youngest collegiate head coach – at age 33 – when he was selected to guide the MSU football program in 1986. He directed the Bulldogs to a 6-5 mark in his first season at the helm, the school’s first winning season in five years. Felker’s team won road games at Syracuse and at defending SEC champion Tennessee during that ’86 season, and he became the first State head football coach to post a winning record in his initial season since the legendary Darrell Royal in 1954. Felker served as State’s head football coach through the 1990 season.

He came back to State as the school’s head coach following 11 years as an assistant coach on the collegiate level. Immediately prior to rejoining the MSU program, he was an assistant at Alabama from 1983-85. He served as the Crimson Tide receivers coach in 1983-84 and the offensive backfield coach in ‘85. During his stay in Tuscaloosa, he helped Alabama to postseason bowl wins over Southern Methodist (’83 Sun Bowl) and Southern California (’85 Aloha Bowl).

Prior to returning to the SEC, Felker worked two years each at Texas Tech (1979-80) and Memphis State (1981-82) under the guidance of the late head coach Rex Dockery.

Felker began his coaching career at Mississippi State following his playing days, working for head coach Bob Tyler. He worked with the junior varsity (1975) and the varsity receivers, quarterbacks and running backs (1976-78).

A native of Jackson, Tenn., Felker was a five-sport letterman at Brownsville (Tenn.) High School, earning all-state honors in football under the tutelage of his father, Edwin "Babe" Felker, an assistant coach at the school.

Felker’s first association with Mississippi State came in December 1970, when he signed a football scholarship to play quarterback for the Bulldogs. After playing one year of freshman ball, he was under center for most of the next three seasons. In 1974, Felker led MSU to a 9-3 overall record, leading the SEC in total offense and directing the Bulldogs to a win over North Carolina in the Sun Bowl. He was named the Nashville Banner SEC Player of the Year and the Birmingham Post-Herald Outstanding Senior Player for his stellar final season.

Following his five years as head coach at MSU, Felker worked nine more years as an assistant coach. He had two terms as the offensive coordinator at the University of Tulsa (1991-92 and 1997-99) and spent four years on the coaching staff at the University of Arkansas, working three seasons (1994-96) as the school’s offensive coordinator.

He helped Tulsa to a 10-2 record in 1991, coaching the quarterbacks and wide receivers. That Golden Hurricane team defeated San Diego State in the Freedom Bowl during that season. He also tutored the running backs during his stay at the Western Athletic Conference school.

While at Arkansas, Felker coached the running backs in 1993, then tutored the quarterbacks the next three years. He helped the Razorbacks win the SEC Western Division title and earn a berth in the ’95 SEC Championship Game. The Razorbacks concluded that season with a bid to the Carquest Bowl in Miami, Fla.

Felker is married to the former Susan Tingle and they have three sons, Jay, David and Stephen.

Coaching Career
2007-08: Mississippi State (Running Backs / Recruiting Coordinator)
2002-06: Mississippi State (Coordinator of Football Operations)
1997-99: Tulsa (Offensive Coordinator)
1993-96: Arkansas (Offensive Coordinator)
1991-92: Tulsa (Offensive Coordinator)
1986-90: Mississippi State (Head Coach)
1985: Alabama (Defensive Backs)
1983-84: Alabama (Receivers)
1981-82: Memphis State (Assistant Coach)
1979-80: Texas Tech (Assistant Coach)
1976-78: Mississippi State (Receivers and Running Backs)
1975: Mississippi State (Junior Varsity)

Personal
Birthdate: February 1, 1953
Hometown: Brownsville, Tenn.
Education: Bachelor’s, Mississippi State, 1975
Family: Married to the former Susan Tingle
Children: Jay, David & Stephen