New coach, new season, new record, hopefully

Winston-Salem State turned to another familiar face to serve as the school's ninth football coach. 

WSSU alum Connell Maynor, a veteran with more than 20 years of football experience as both a player and a coach, began his first stint as a head coach.

Maynor was hired Dec. 16 and started Jan. 4.

"I've been coaching for a long time and a long time waiting to be a head coach," Maynor said. 

"When the opportunity opened to come back where I started my playing career, and to start my coaching career, it's unbelievable, a coincidence and a dream come true.  

I relish the situation.  I'm fired up and ready to go."

Maynor is replacing former alum Kermit Blount who was designated to another position in November to fulfill his contract. 

"I know I have some big shoes to fill in replacing Coach Blount," Maynor said. 

"He did a great job with the program and won a couple CIAA Championships." 

 Maynor was the school's quarterback in 1987 when the Rams won a CIAA Championship, under then head coach Bill Hayes.  

Hayes also returned to WSSU earlier this month as the new athletic director. 

"Our relationship is almost like a father-son relationship and it makes a big difference when you have an AD on your side, and you can work together and you know him and he knows you," Maynor said about Hayes. 

"In that aspect, it's huge.  It's invaluable to have him in my corner as my AD as I'm starting my head coaching career."

Hayes said that the number one factor in hiring Maynor is that he has a passion for the game about college athletics and football specifically.

"He is a winner and has a lot of energy, and that is what I think that our program needed," Hayes said.  

"A coach with a big-time passion and a lot of energy and I think that he has that; in fact, I know that he has both of those."

Maynor spent his last 10 seasons with Fayetteville State University, serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.  

The FSU Broncos are the 2009 CIAA Champions.  

Maynor now has 10 championships, six as a player and four as a coach and he plans to add to that legacy now at WSSU. "You can expect to win championships," Maynor said. 

"That's all I know.  That's what I'm here for.  I always tell everybody 10 and counting so we're going to get some more."

Maynor has begun that process by hiring his coaching staff.  He will lead as offensive coordinator calling the plays.  He is joined by assistant coach John Eder, who he brought on from FSU.

"He's [Eder] been coaching for over 35 years," Maynor said. 

 "We've been together for the past 10 years at Fayetteville State where our offense has been ranked in the top three every year if not No. 1. So we know what we are doing on offense."

Maynor added Kienus P. Boulware, Richard Hayes and Charles Nieves to the defensive staff.  

He retained Mike Ketchum and Kevin Downing, both from the defensive staff for the past six years.   

"I've kept Mike Ketchum," Maynor said, "because of the past history on the defense, as a defensive coordinator.  I brought in Boulware to be the defensive coordinator and Richard Hayes. 

"Boulware's background is second-to-none on the Division-II level, and his defense in 07-08 was No.1 in the nation. So those guys together and with the guys that we already have, I expect to have a great defense."

Maynor is a 1995 graduate of NC A&T with a bachelor's degree in Recreation Administration.  He is pursuing a master's degree in physical education at the UNC-Pembroke. 

"Even when I was a student here, I learned that grades and schoolwork are first," Maynor said.

"Coaching young kids that I have been in their shoes, their situation, and that I've learned a lot, I will be able to relate with these guys. 

"I'm glad to be back and be a Ram again."