Courtesy of Delaware State Athletic Media Relations


DOVER, Del., Jan. 6, 2022 -- The family of Arnold Jeter has announced that the former Delaware State head football coach passed away at age 82 in New Jersey last week.

Delaware State gave Jeter his first heading coaching job at age 28 in 1967. He served in the position until 1974.

Jeter was the Hornets' head coach during the football program's transition from the Division II Central Intercollegiate Conference (now the CIAA) to the Division I Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in 1971.

In Delaware State's final season as a member of the CIAA, Jeter led the 1970 Hornets to a 6-2 overall record and a 4-1 mark in the CIAA.

Most notably, the '70 Hornets were tops among all NCAA Division II teams in total defense and rushing defense, establishing school records that still stand today.

Jeter's tenure at Delaware State was also highlighted by the career of running back Steve Davis, the Hornets' fifth all-time leading rusher with 2,654 yards from 1967-70. Davis was selected in the third round of the 1971 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, the highest selection ever of a Delaware State player. He was a member of the Steelers' 1975 Super Bowl championship team before competing for two seasons with the New York Jets.

A native of Steubenville, Ohio, Jeter played college football at Kent State in Ohio. His first collegiate coaching position was backfield coach for the freshman team at the University of Iowa, where he earned a master's degree in Physical Education.

From 1975-92, Jeter served as an assistant or associate head coach at Marshall, Wisconsin, Arizona and Rutgers. In 1995, he became an assistant coach at New Jersey City University (NJCU), a position he held for six seasons until being named the program's ninth head coach in January 2001, serving in the position until 2002. He remained at NJCU as an assistant athletic director until his retirement in 2012.

Funeral services for Jeter are set for Saturday, Jan. 15 at Pilgrim Baptist Church, 172 Shrewsbury Ave., Red Bank, N.J.

Viewing is 10 a.m. and the service begins at 11 a.m.
 
The following statement is in memory of Coach Jeter by Delaware State alums Don Blakey and Jimmie Strong, who served on the Hornets' football staff during his tenure:
We wish to express our sincere sorrow at news of the death of Coach Arnold Jeter, a former head football coach for Delaware State University. One of the best ways of doing that is to share our relationship with him while we both served Delaware State University as builders of young men for the future.

Coach Arnold Jeter came to Delaware State University with a vision of bringing the institution championships on the gridiron. While circumstances beyond his control prohibited his dreams of a championship from becoming a reality, he created an atmosphere that other coaches could learn from. Coach Jeter was all about teamwork, brotherhood and learning.

Coach Jeter changed the culture of Delaware State University athletics. Each morning during preseason Coach Jeter would assemble his team near Memorial Hall and proceed to walk with them for a mile or two off the campus over the railroad track to what is now a training facility for Delaware prison guards and back. After the walk, he accompanied the team to breakfast. Realizing that where ever the team went, they were representatives of Delaware State University. On trips away from the campus, Coach Jeter required ALL students traveling with the team, players and aides, to dress with coat and tie. In coaches' meetings, while he had the final word, he considered the comments and suggestions of his assistant coaches, often incorporating their ideas into his game plan. Setting an example of being all business on the grid iron and gentlemen off of it was his message.

Coach Jeter was a salesman for his football program. If he got a foot in the door of a prospective player, he was able to convince a player and, most importantly, the parents, that Delaware State was the place to play football while getting an education. Additionally, Coach Jeter stayed in contact with his players long after they left his football program.

Possibly, Coach Jeter's greatest on the field football accomplishment was to have built a nationally recognized defensive unit that caused opponents to lose 4.9 yards per carry, a record that possibly stands today.

Rest in Peace, Coach.

Sincerely,

Don Blakey, Football Scout
Jimmie Strong, Defensive Coordinator