Jesse Henry Hurst II, longtime educator and football coach at historically black Texas Southern University, passed away January 26, 2024 at the age of 82.
An alumnus of Texas Southern University, Dr. Hurst served the school and its athletic programs for over 20 years. He was a professor of kinesiology and health education, as well as an offensive line coach for the football team until his retirement in 2014. Before he came to Texas Southern University, Dr. Hurst taught physical education and coached at Prairie View A&M University, a historically Black university in Texas. Earlier in his career, he spent seven years overseeing the academic program for athletes at the University of Houston. He also had experience teaching in elementary schools in the Houston area.
For his undergraduate education, Dr. Hurst attended Oklahoma State University upon receiving a football and baseball scholarship. His 1959 enrollment class was only the second class of African American students to attend the university. Upon graduating from Oklahoma State University in 1963, Dr. Hurst joined the Army Reserves after receiving his draft notice. He served for roughly 10 years, including two and half tours in Vietnam, and graduated from the United States Army’s War College.
Dr. Hurst earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Oklahoma State University, his master’s degree in education from Prairie View A&M University, and his doctoral degree in higher education administration from Texas Southern University.
