Heishma Northern was named the 31st head coach in university history on Dec. 13, 2010. No stranger to the Southwestern Athletic Conference, Northern begins his 18th season on the collegiate level and 10th season at Prairie View A&M.
Last season, Northern had a memorable campaign as 36 offensive records were broken under his watch. The Panthers were an offensive juggernaut nationally as they ranked sixth nationally in total offense, ninth in scoring offense, ninth in completion percentage, ninth in third down percentage, 10th in passing offense and 10th in first down offense. Wide receiver Deandre Cooper, who earned an NFL Free Agent invite, also closed out his career in style as he shattered PVAMU all-time great Otis Taylor's single season mark with 1,037 receiving yards and 80 receptions.
Northern also made history as his 56-48 win over Stephen F. Austin was the first over SFA in school history and the first win over a Southland Conference opponent since 1985. Six student-athletes garnered All-SWAC honors as the Panthers finished second in the SWAC West.
During the 2012 season, the Panthers became an offensive juggernaut under Northern 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). Six players were named to the All-SWAC team with freshman Johnta’ Hebert earning SWAC Freshman of the Year honors.
Prairie View A&M continued its NFL tradition as former Panther defensive end Jarvis Wilson inked a free agent deal with the Green Bay Packers. Wilson’s signing marked the fourth straight year a student-athlete from Prairie View A&M signed an NFL Free Agent contract.
In his first season as head coach for the Panthers, Northern led one of the youngest teams in the Southwestern Athletic Conference to within one game of earning a SWAC Championship berth as Prairie View A&M finished tied for second in the SWAC’s Western Division. As a team, the Panthers placed five players on the 2011 All-SWAC Team, led the league in rush offense with 174.8 yards per game and finished with the third-best offensive unit in the SWAC. Defensively, Northern’s defensive background had a huge impact on the field as the Panthers led the SWAC with 45 sacks. Prairie View A&M also displayed sound discipline on the gridiron as they committed the fewest amount of penalties in the SWAC.
As a result of the team’s defensive prowess, defensive end Adrian Hamilton emerged as one of the top defenders in the nation as he set the SWAC and Prairie View A&M single season sack record with 20.5 sacks en route to earning 2011 co-SWAC Defensive Player of the Year honors and a third-place finish in the 2011 Buck Buchanan Award voting, which is awarded to the top defender on the Football Championship Subdivision level. Prairie View A&M’s fifth consecutive consensus AP All-American, Hamilton also played in two postseason all-star games in addition to becoming the second straight Panther defensive lineman to sign a NFL contract as he inked with the Dallas Cowboys.
In addition to Hamilton’s accomplishments, several other Panthers had impressive seasons under Northern as running back/kick returner Jermaine Waddy led the SWAC in all-purpose yards while cornerback Moses Ellis finished as the league’s top punt returner.
Prior to becoming head coach, Northern was an award-winning defensive coordinator for six seasons at Prairie View A&M. Under his watch, the Panther defense rose to become one of the top units in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Ranks.
For the fourth straight season, Northern’s defense produced another All-American following the 2010 campaign as cornerback Moses Ellis led the nation in interceptions with eight and defended 22 passes en route to earning All-American and All-SWAC honors. As a unit, the Panthers finished second in pass defense amongst SWAC foes as they only yielded 164.6 yards per contest. As a result, four members of the Panther defense earned All-SWAC honors in Ellis (first team), defensive lineman Quinton Spears (first), free safety Chris Adingupu (second) and middle linebacker Max Sencherey (second).
Despite losing six key starters and a two-time All-American from the previous year, Prairie View’s defensive unit was instrumental during the team’s historic run to the SWAC Championship in 2009 as the unit led the SWAC in scoring defense with 16.6 points per outing and pass defense efficiency (101.7). The Panthers finished the 2009 season ranked fifth in total defense and produced its second consecutive All-American in defensive back Anthony Beck along with having three All-SWAC members in Beck, Spears and Adingupu. In addition, Northern’s unit recorded two shutouts on the season and held four teams to 74 yards or less on the ground.
In 2008, the Panther defense set the tone for the team’s 9-1 record as they concluded the year ranked second nationally in scoring defense, third in total defense, third in rush defense and seventh in pass efficiency defense. Prairie View also made history and recorded two shutouts for the first time since the 1966 season.
As a result of Prairie View’s defensive prowess, Northern earned national acclaim and was selected as FootballScoop.com’s 2008 Division I-AA Coordinator of the Year. Individually, linebacker Zach East closed out his career as a two-time All-American while Beck and Spears earned First and Second Team All-SWAC Honors, respectively.
During the 2007 season, Northern’s defense played a key role in helping the Panthers clinch their first winning season in four decades as they finished atop the SWAC in scoring and red zone defense along with a third-place total defense ranking. A total of three starters earned All-SWAC honors led by East earning All-American and SWAC Defensive Player of the Year Honors.
One year removed from finishing sixth in total defense among SWAC foes, Northern made his mark in his second year at Prairie View during the 2006 season after fielding the top-ranked defensive unit in the conference. Led by first team All-SWAC defensive end and future NFL free agent signee Jermaine McGhee, the Panthers set a school record for fewest yards rushing by an opponent after holding Edward Waters College to -35 yards. For his hard work on the gridiron after the season, Northern was one of 26 coaches from across the nation invited to attend the NCAA Expert Coaches Academy in Miami, Fla.
Prior to his tenure at Prairie View, Northern spent seven seasons at Grambling State University in a variety of capacities.
Initially brought to GSU to serve as running backs coach, Northern made a seamless transition to coaching defensive backs in 2001 as his unit ranked ninth nationally in interceptions en route to GSU’s second-straight SWAC Championship. During the 2002 season, which marked Grambling’s third consecutive SWAC title, Northern’s group improved on the interception mark as they ranked fourth nationally.
In 2003, Northern assumed the role of interim defensive coordinator and immediately made his impact felt as the Tiger defense finished the year ranked third nationally against the run in Division I-AA. In the SWAC, the Tigers finished second in rushing, third in scoring defense, fourth in opponent third down percentage, fourth in turnover margin and fifth in sacks.
Over the course of his coaching career, Northern has had several of his former players enter the professional football realm gaining experience with the NFL, World and Arena Football Leagues. In addition, several of his pupils have received an opportunity to coach on the collegiate level.
A 1996 mathematics education graduate of Southern University, Northern began his coaching career on the high school level at Glen Oaks High School in Baton Rouge, La. where he coached girl’s basketball and baseball. He then moved on to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga. serving as the team’s running backs coach and special teams coordinator in 1997 under former head coach, Super Bowl MVP and current Grambling State head coach Doug Williams.
A student of the game of football, Northern was one of only 15 coaches from across the nation selected to participate in the prestigious NCAA Champions Forum during June of 2010. He has also completed a training camp internship with the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League in the summer of 2009.
Northern, who also holds a master’s degree in Sports Administration from Grambling State, is the oldest of three siblings and is married to the former Paula Duell of Baton Rouge, La. Together, they have two children, Adam (6) and Brooke (2).
The Northern File
Hometown: Baton Rouge, La.
Wife: Paula
Children: Adam (7), Brooke (3)
College: Southern University (1996)
High School: Glen Oaks
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2011-2014 Prairie View A&M, head coach
2005-2010 Prairie View A&M, associate head coach/defensive coordinator
1998-2005 Grambling State, interim defensive coordinator/running backs/defensive backs/special teams coordinator
1997-1998 Morehouse College, running backs/special teams coordinator
1996-1997 Glen Oaks (La.) H.S., assistant coach/defensive line
