Sources: Fred McNair out at Alcorn, future unclear

Fred McNair, one of Alcorn's most decorated players, the brother of the late, great Steve McNair, and head coach at his alma mater since 2016, has separated from the school, several sources told FootballScoop.

McNair guided the Braves to an 7-4 2023 season that included a five-game winning streak, victory against arch-rival Jackson State and a share of the SWAC West title.

But McNair had been working this season on an expiring contract, and, sources told FootballScoop, McNair did not find satisfactory Alcorn's proposal for a new deal.

Though McNair has been linked in the last week to the head coaching position at Texas Southern, nothing with that potential move was finalized as of Tuesday morning.

Sources told FootballScoop that Alcorn defensive coordinator Cedric Thomas, who served as McNair's coordinator in 2016-17 and was hired back into the role last spring, was expected to take over the Braves' program as its next head coach.

Alcorn officials are expected to make a formal announcement today. 

The McNair situation has been a befuddling one across the last week to 10 days.

He had extensive interviews with Texas Southern and was believed to been poised to accept that position, but Texas Southern officials have not made any type of formal announcement.

At Alcorn, McNair -- who oftentimes mowed the fields himself and painted the yardage markers -- had developed the program into a consistent winner.

With his share of the SWAC West this season, after conference expansion in recent years shuffled divisions, McNair won outright or shared five divisional crowns, twice won the SWAC title and played in a pair of Celebration Bowls.

He won seven or more games in four of his last six seasons and never posted a record worse than 5-6.