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Al Matthews, the first black coach in Texas Athletics history, has died, Texas Football announced on Tuesday evening. He was 77.
Matthews coached on Darrell Royal's staff from 1972-73 while he was still playing professional football for the Green Bay Packers. He also played for the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers throughout his NFL career.
Matthews, an Austin native, attended Stephen F. Austin High School before going on to Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville). He was inducted into the Javelina's Hall of Fame in 1985. He played on three LSC championship teams from 1967-69, as well as a national-championship squad in 1969. In the NFL the former safety totaled 13 interceptions throughout his eight seasons.
Matthews also coached at Austin High for four seasons.
While coaching wide receivers for Texas, Matthews also helped recruit top talent like Arkansas running back Graylon Wyatt, according to the Texas Legacy Support Network.
Matthews opted to leave coaching to continue pursuing his professional playing career in 1974.
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"I didn't feel any pressure at all," Matthews said of juggling coaching and still pursuing professional football (via the Texas Legacy Support Network). "Darrell and I were great friends, and he had a great staff, and they were all good with it. It was a good fit."
Matthews garnered plenty of respect at the pro level from those around him.
"I call him the dean of our secondary," said Seahawks defensive coordinator Bob Hollway, who also coached the defensive backs, via the Pro! The Official Magazine of the National Football League on Oct. 24, 1976
''Overall, he has a very good knowledge of the game and he's aware of what's going on out there,'' says Hollway.
"Al is very thorough and prepares himself for the games. He's a student of the game. "
Hollway also likes Matthews' mental approach to the game.
"He wants to be a leader," says Hollway. "He wants to help the team. Al is a positive player."
After his playing and coaching days were over, Matthews continued to do a lot of charitable work throughout the community. He helped create the Celebrity Golf Tournament that raises money for the Neighborhood Longhorn Program.
He also served on the National Football Players Association executive committee for three seasons, as well as serving as a player representative for five years on top of that.
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