Head coach Doug Williams' contract was bought out after the first two games of the season.[1] He was replaced by interim head coach George Ragsdale, the team's running backs coach.[1] Ragsdale was subsequently fired on October 17 after losing five games in a row and replaced with Dennis Winston as interim head coach.[2] In response to a number of players being dissatisfied with the conditions of the facility and practices of the athletic department, Grambling State refused to play the October 19 game against Jackson State University.[3][4] As such, their game against the Tigers was forfeited.[3][4] On October 22, the players officially ended their boycott, and the team returned to the field for their next game against Texas Southern University.[5]
On December 4, 2013, Broderick Fobbs was introduced as Winston's replacement as full-time head coach of the Tigers.[6]