The HBCU community is mourning the loss of beloved coach, educator, and national leader Dr. Rod Paige, who passed away Tuesday at the age of 92. Paige, a former HBCU football head coach and athletic director , made history as the first African American to serve as U.S. Secretary of Education. A monumental figure in HBCU athletics and a steadfast advocate for educational access and equity, Paige leaves behind a legacy that has shaped generations of students, athletes, and educators.

Paige, a native of Monticello, Mississippi, began his career as a classroom teacher before bringing his leadership to the football field. An alumnus of Jackson State University, he later returned to his alma mater as head football coach and went on to serve as athletic director at Texas Southern University.

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