Biography:

Henry Frazier III begins his sixth season as head coach of the Prairie View A&M University Panthers. He became the 30th head football coach in PVAMU athletic history on Dec. 22, 2003.

After a history-making 2007 season, Frazier continued to rewrite the record books in 2008 as he led the Panthers to a No. 25 national ranking after the team posted its best record since 1964 following a 9-1 season. Due to his efforts, the national media took notice as Frazier was named the Sheridan Broadcast Network/Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year in addition to the American Football Coaches Region III FCS Coach of the Year. On the gridiron, the Panthers were dominant on both sides of the ball as they ranked second nationally in scoring defense and third in both total and rush defense. Offensively, Prairie View led the SWAC in scoring offense after scoring 30.7 points per game in addition to topping the charts in rush offense (172.7 ypg) and punting. As a result of Prairie View’s success on the field in 2008, a total of seven student-athletes earned All-SWAC honors while senior linebacker Zach East earned All-American Honors for the second consecutive year.

In 2007, the Panthers enjoyed a four-game turnaround from the previous season as their 7-3 record marked the program’s first winning season since 1976. For his history-making efforts on the field, Frazier was selected as Coach of the Year by the College Sporting News and the Black College Sports Page. Individually, East earned All-American Honors while a total of five players received All-SWAC honors.

During the 2006 campaign, Frazier and staff made history as they defeated Southern University for the first time since 1988 with an overtime victory. Also during the season, Frazier guided Prairie View to its first defensive shutout since 1987 and its first-ever win in school history over Alabama A&M.

In 2005, Frazier continued Prairie View’s upward swing and guided the Panthers to their best season since 1988 with a 5-6 record. Included among the highlights was the Panthers’ first victory over Jackson State since 1971 and the team’s first SWAC road win in 17 years. In addition, Frazier moved into some elite company and joined PVAMU legendary head football coach William “Billy” Nicks as the only other coach in Prairie View history to beat Texas Southern in consecutive seasons.

Prior to his arrival in 2004, Prairie View had posted two consecutive one-win seasons in 2002 and 2003. In his first season at Prairie View, Frazier and staff led the Panthers to their most wins since 2001 by winning a total of three games. Prairie View also defeated arch rival Texas Southern for the first time in 15 years, beating the Tigers 25-7 in the 20th annual Labor Day Classic. In doing so, he led the Panthers to their first 2-0 start since 1964.

When comparing Frazier’s current win totals he has already eclipsed the win marks of the last 11 coaches at PVAMU.

A native of Washington D.C. and a 1993 graduate of Bowie State University, Frazier played quarterback for BSU and went 18-3-1 as a starter. He guided the Bulldogs to the NCAA playoffs in 1988 and a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championship in 1989. Upon graduating from Bowie State, Frazier entered the coaching ranks and had tremendous success as a head coach on the high school level in Maryland. Frazier continued to climb the coaching ladder and was named the head football coach at Bowie State in 1999. He quickly turned his alma mater into one of the CIAA’s best.

In 2001, Frazier led Bowie State to its best season since 1989 with a 7-3 record. For his success on the field, he was selected as the Coach of the Year by the CIAA and 100 percent Wrong Club in Atlanta, Ga. In addition, the 2001 Bulldogs also fielded the number one ranked pass defense and number seven ranked defense in NCAA Division II.

After an impressive 2001 season, Frazier moved the BSU program to another level during the 2002 season with their first-ever CIAA Eastern Division title and CIAA championship game appearance. Continuing the winning tradition in 2003, he guided the Bulldogs to their third consecutive winning season with a second place finish in the CIAA Eastern Division. Frazier’s 26-24 career record at Bowie State currently stands as the most victories by any football coach at BSU. Frazier’s coaching philosophy centers around the belief that for a program to become successful, its players need to have fun on the field.

"In order to run a successful program you must provide your student-athletes with structure and discipline," said Frazier. "Whenever you’re able to create that type of atmosphere for your players as well as making it fun for them, you have the basic elements needed for success."

With the success Frazier has had on-and-off the gridiron, it’s no surprise that other programs have taken notice and recruited several members of his coaching staff away from him over the years. Despite being young by coaching standards, Frazier has created an impressive coaching tree over the course of his 11-year career as he has had several former staff members serve as head coaches, coordinators or staff members on the NCAA’s FBS, FCS and Division II levels.

Frazier is married to the former LaNier Turner of Washington, D.C. They have three children, Brijan (19), Brinia (9) and Henry IV (8).