Oliver out as offensive coordinator, Orlando to fill in for remaining games

Offensive coordinator and quarterback coach David Oliver has been relieved of his duties as of Monday, Oct. 23, according to officials with the Southern University football office.
Oliver’s firing comes in the wake of a 3-4 overall, 2-4 Southwestern Athletic Conference season for the Jaguars in which the team was eliminated from contention for this year’s SWAC Championship after Saturday’s 26-10 loss to Alcorn State.
According to a press release, Oliver was in his fifth year at Southern. Prior to his arrival he spent five seasons at Tulane University in New Orleans where his job duties consisted of special teams coordinator as well as working with the team’s tight ends and offensive line.
Under Oliver’s guidance, the Jaguars returned to the top of the offensive charts and in 2003, he coached All-American, Quincy Richard to the most prolific passing season in SU history followed by leading an inexperienced Thomas Ricks in 2004, to Black College All-American, and SWAC Offensive Player of the Year. His offensive output and scheming, led the Jags to lead the nation that year in scoring, averaging 40.0 points per game, states the press release.
“Coach Mark Orlando will be calling plays for the remaining three games of the season,” said Kevin Manns, sports information director for Southern.
Orlando returned to Southern, and the Pete Richardson coaching staff, for his 11th season at SU after spending the 2002-03 season as offensive coordinator at Texas Southern.
Orlando has since served as coach of the running backs and tight ends.
Orlando is a 1975 graduate of Florida State University, where he was a quarterback on the Seminole Football team. He went on to become a member of the Florida A&M staff that won the first Division I-AA National Championship in 1981.
Orlando served as the Rattlers’ offensive coordinator for six seasons and then moved on to Tennessee State University as offensive coordinator for four seasons prior to collaborating with Richardson at Winston-Salem State University in 1991.
As a quarterbacks coach, Orlando has tutored some of the Jaguars top passers, with Eric Randall topping the list, along with Marcus Jacoby and Terrence Levy.
“We’re confident that Mark will do a great job filling in for Oliver in these last three games,” Manns said.
To end the season, the Jaguars are off this week and will return to action for Homecoming versus Texas Southern on Saturday, Nov. 4.
The Jaguars remaining two games will be at home on November 11 versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff and the Bayou Classic in New Orleans on November 25 against Grambling State University.