Bethune-Cookman University Athletics

Prince Pearson is set to begin his first season at Bethune-Cookman University, where he will serve as the offensive line coach for the Wildcats under fourth-year head coach Terry Sims. Pearson’s appointment was made final in a decision by Sims in February.
 
Prior to Pearson’s arrival in Daytona Beach, the veteran collegiate coach spent the previous three seasons at Alabama State University. With the Hornets program, he served in the role of assistant coach in charge of the offensive line and tight ends, as well as the run game coordinator.
 
Under his tutelage, the Hornets offensive line blocked for an attack that scored an average of just over 25 points per game. They also blocked for an offense that exploded for more than 2,000 yards on the ground and 2,100 yards through the air during the 2015 campaign.
 
Pearson was no stranger to the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) after serving for 11 seasons at Prairie View A&M in Prairie View, Texas prior to his stint in Montgomery, Alabama. With the Panthers of Prairie View, he served as an assistant coach charged with overseeing the offensive line and tight ends. Prairie View fielded one of the top rushing attacks in the SWAC as the Panthers have rushed for 1,700-plus yards in five of his 10 seasons at the helm.

The offensive line played a major role in Prairie View A&M’s offensive success in 2014, as the Panthers offensive line unit paved the way for over 6,000 yards of total offense while also finishing third in the SWAC in sacks against as Dillon Bonnet received first team honors. With the line’s protection, the Panthers ranked sixth nationally in total offense (517.2), ninth in scoring offense (39.0), ninth in completion percentage (66 percent), ninth in third down percentage (48 percent), 10th in passing offense (301.7) and 10th in first down offense (319).
 
The Panthers had nine games of 450-plus yards of total offense and seven games of 500-plus yards as they helped set 28 school records last fall. On the ground, the offensive line had a career season by paving the way for 2,591 rushing yards which included two games of 400-plus yard performances. In the passing game, the Panthers moved to another level behind the line’s protection with two games of 400-yard-plus passing performances.
 
After a productive 2011 campaign, the Panthers exploded offensively in 2012 as they led the SWAC with 414.7 yards per game while also finishing first in pass efficiency (140.3), second in pass offense (228.0) and third in rush offense (186.7). Offensive tackle Tre Glover was named to the 2012 All-SWAC Team as a result, while several offensive performers posted career highs at their respective positions. With the blocking of the offensive line, the Panthers offense recorded seven games over 400 yards of total offense, including three games over 500 yards and one with 600-plus yards. In addition, the offense ranked first amongst SWAC teams in third down conversions.
 
In 201, Prairie View led the SWAC in rushing with 174.3 yards per contest. The team rushed for over 100 yards in 10 of its 11 contests, while eclipsing the 300-yard mark on two occasions. Additionally, the team amassed 109 first downs via the ground game. Despite a young offensive backfield, senior tackle Tim Tusey capped off his career with All-SWAC First Team honors.
 
In 2009, Prairie View’s offensive line clicked on all cylinders as the team’s offensive unit put together four games of 400 or more total offensive yards. In addition, the line blocked for the SWAC’s third-ranked offense while also helping the unit finish third in rush offense and fourth in pass offense. The Panthers also finished second in time of possession (31:51) and sacks against (19), all while helping the team rush for 100 or more yards in seven of the team’s 10 contests, with two games over 200-plus yards.
 
For the second consecutive season and only the fourth time in 23 years, two members of the unit earned All-SWAC honors in Tusey and Dekle. The duo helped Prairie View A&M win a SWAC Championship and produce the SWAC’s Offensive Player of the Year whom also finished as the nation’s leader in passing efficiency among the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) ranks.
 
In 2008, the Panthers made history on the ground as they rushed for 1,727 yards and 23 touchdowns en route to a 9-1 campaign. For only the third time since 1986, Prairie View had two offensive linemen (Cleveland Collie and Dekle) receive All-SWAC honors as they paved the way for the team’s first 1,000-yard rusher (Babers) in 20 years. Opposing defenses found Prairie View’s offensive line tough to get around as they finished tied for first in sacks against with only 17 allowed.
 
Led by their ground game, the Panthers made history in 2007 as they clinched their first winning season in four decades en route to rushing for nearly 1,400 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. Offensive linemen Maurice Robinson and Daylan Deal earned Second Team All-SWAC honors for the Panthers as they led a line that only allowed 12 sacks.
 
Prairie View’s ground game enjoyed a breakout season in 2005 under Pearson as the duo of Arnell Fontenot and Kerry Wilson helped the Panthers combine to rush for over 2,000 yards. The Panthers doubled their output from the previous season as they averaged 4.4 yards per carry and scored 15 touchdowns.
 
Prior to Prairie View, Pearson spent four seasons as the offensive line coach, run game coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Texas Southern. While at TSU, the Tigers leaned heavily on their ground game during his tenure there as they consistently ranked among the top five teams in the league under his watch from 2000 to 2003 in rush offense. As a result, several of his recruits received the opportunity to participate in NFL Training Camps.
 
Born in Lake City, Florida, Pearson had a successful high school career as an offensive lineman at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was recruited by the University of Minnesota and finished his career as an All-Big 10 nominee. After graduating from Minnesota in 1993, Pearson returned to Florida and eventually became the offensive coordinator for Boyd Anderson High School in Fort Lauderdale.
 
In 1997, Pearson moved to the collegiate ranks and became an assistant coach at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. While at Holy Cross, he assisted with the team’s film breakdown and coached the defensive line. After one season at Holy Cross, Pearson returned to Florida in 1998, assuming the head coaching position at Hallandale High School. He quickly made his mark at Hallandale by leading the team to its first playoff berth in 16 years. For his coaching efforts, Pearson was selected to coach in two all-star games and was nominated for Coach of the Year in 1998.
 
Pearson participated in the Bill Walsh Minority Fellowship program with the Minnesota Vikings in the summer of 2012, and also participated in the prestigious NFL-NCAA Coaches Academy in the spring of 2012. Pearson was one of only 30 coaches selected to network and learn from former NFL coaches, general managers and current NCAA head coaches.
 
Pearson is married to the former Evangeline Suarez of Fort Lauderdale. Together, they have one child, Morgan.