THE OFFICIAL ATHLETICS SITE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA LIONS

Willie Slater served as offensive coordinator at UNA under Bobby Wallace on three consecutive NCAA Division II National Championship teams from 1993-95. During his eight total seasons at UNA, the Lions had a combined 76-21-1 record and made five NCAA playoff appearances, won three conference championships and three straight national championships. The Lions were 41-1 from 1993-95, making them the first university in the history of college football to win 40 or more games in just three seasons. UNA was also the first school in the history of NCAA scholarship football to win three straight national titles.  During Slater's time at UNA, the program produced eight All-Americans on the offensive side of the ball (Tyrone Rush, Jeff Surbaugh, Kin Taylor, Jon Thompson, Jarius Hayes, Cody Gross, Michael Williams, A.J. Lamar). His UNA offenses led the nation in rushing in 1993 (371.5 yards per game) and finished fifth in 1994, third in 1995 and fifth in 1997. During his eight seasons at UNA, the Lions led the Gulf South Conference in rushing offense five times, total offense twice and scoring offense once. As a team, the Lions were nationally ranked for 51 weeks during Slater's time at UNA, including 27 consecutive No. 1 rankings. UNA also had an outstanding 41-7 record at home over that eight-year span. 

Slater also enjoyed a highly successful coaching career before and after his time at UNA. A Coffeeville, Ala., native, Slater played quarterback at West Alabama from 1974-77. He was then a graduate assistant coach at UWA in 1978, followed coaching stints at Jess Lanier High School (1979–1980), T. R. Miller High School (1981–1982),Troy State (1983–1990 - OC/RB/QB), West Alabama (1991 - OC), North Alabama (1992–1999 - OC), Jacksonville State (2000–2003 - OC), Temple (2004–2005 - OC/WR), Tuskegee (2006–2021 - Head Coach) and Clark Atlanta (2022–2023 - Head Coach). 

He has a 126-59 record as a collegiate head coach. He was a five-time NCAA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year and was an assistant coach on five Division II National Championship teams, including two at Troy in 1984 and 1987.   

Tuskegee won the 2007 HBCU National Championship under Slater, finishing the year with a 12-0 record. The Golden Tigers won four consecutive SIAC championships from 2006 until 2009, and followed that up with titles in 2012 and 2014.