After a circuitous search, Texas Southern has hired a new head football coach.

The school announced the hiring of Cris Dishman, a former Houston Oilers cornerback, as the Tigers’ new coach
Friday.

“I want everyone in Tigerland to know that we’re going to put together a good team, a good staff, and everyone
has to do their job and be all in for TSU football,” Dishman said in a statement issued by the school.

Dishman replaces Clarence McKinney, whose contract wasn’t renewed in late November.

Before hiring Dishman, TSU athletic director Kevin Granger was poised to hire Alcorn State’s Fred McNair, the
brother of late NFL star Steve McNair. But Granger couldn’t get board of regents approval, with some
members preferring former Texans star Andre Johnson.

Johnson had expressed his interest in the job in November
but told the school recently.

In the 58-year-old Dishman, TSU is getting a veteran coach who has worked at various levels of college and
professional football. Dishman’s most recent job was as the defensive coordinator for the XFL’s Las Vegas
Vipers the past two seasons.

Dishman was the Chargers’ assistant defensive backs coach from 2009-12 and also worked with the Raiders
(2005, 2007), Dolphins (2006) and Cardinals (2017) as part of the NFL’s minority coaching fellowship program.
His college résumé includes a stint as Baylor’s safeties coach from 2015-16. Dishman has also
coached in NFL Europe, the CFL and USFL.

The Louisville, Ky., native played 13 NFL seasons, mostly with the Oilers from 1988-96. He was a first team
All-Pro selection in 1991. Dishman also played for Washington, Kansas City and Minnesota in a playing career that
concluded in 2000.

Dishman will get a chance to coach against a former Oilers teammate in the SWAC, with fellow defensive back Bubba
McDowell entering his third season as Prairie View A&M’s coach.