Feb. 10, 2015
Andrew Coleman, known as the “Minister of Defense” during a remarkable Vanderbilt career, has died after an lengthy bout with cancer. He was 55.
Coleman, a letterwinner from 1978-81, ranks among the greatest defensive players in Commodore history. More than three decades after his playing days, Coleman continues to rank as Vanderbilt’s all-time leader with 458 career tackles.
“Andrew was an incredible player, truly one of the best linebackers Vanderbilt has ever known,” former classmate and All-Southeastern Conference receiver Wamon Buggs said. “But even more than that, Andrew was a man of character and integrity. We have lost a gem, a very special person in Andrew Coleman.”
The middle linebacker lead the Southeastern Conference in tackles as a sophomore and junior with 140 and 174 stops, respectively. Coleman’s 174-tackle total in 1980 also ranks as the second highest single-season total in modern Vanderbilt history.
Known as one of the nation’s top run stoppers, Coleman earned second team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press after the 1980 season.
As a senior, Coleman was a defensive co-captain on George MacIntyre’s 1981 Commodore squad.
Coleman came to Vanderbilt after a standout prep career at Humboldt (Tenn.) High School. He received All-State and All-West Tennessee honors as a three-year defensive starter at Humboldt where he also served as senior class president. In 2008, Coleman was inducted into the Gibson County (Tenn.) Sports Hall of Fame for his high school and collegiate athletic achievements.
After completing a double major in political science and sociology from Vanderbilt in, Coleman returned to his west Tennessee hometown. He was a leader in Humboldt civic roles, including alderman, school board member and NAACP chapter president. He also worked for more than 20 years with the Tennessee State Board of Probation and Parole, and operated his own public relations firm.
A visitation will be held today, from 1-6 p.m, at Baskerville Funeral Home in Humboldt.
