Cincinnati News, Louisville News, Raphielle Johnson, South Florida News, Uncategorized

BIG EAST FOOTBALL COACHING CHANGES

Leavitt firing garners national headlines

By Raphielle Johnson

On the surface three coaching changes within a conference wouldn’t be a huge deal. But when taking into consideration that only eight schools play football in the Big East this qualifies as an off-season of significant turnover. The most surprising move came on Friday with South Florida firing head coach Jim Leavitt, the lone coach in the program’s 13-year history. In a college football season that’s seen coaches fired at both Kansas and Texas Tech for their conduct towards players, Leavitt was let go over an incident with walk-on wide receiver Joel Miller at the half of their November 21st game against Louisville.

According to many testimonies Leavitt grabbed Miller by the throat and struck him in the face twice, allegations that the coach denied. Miller’s father went to the papers to change his story after it was originally reported by AOL Fanhouse writer Brett McMurphy on December 14th, saying then that Coach Leavitt had not struck his son. But in the investigation done by the school they came to the conclusion that Leavitt had indeed struck Miller after interviewing student-athletes and those who are not student-athletes. In the letter of termination sent to Leavitt by the school the school said the following in regards to its findings:

It was also reported that in the days following the incident Miller and Leavitt had a conversation in which the coach advised him to choose his words wisely because he (Leavitt) “was the most powerful man in the room”. Leavitt, who led the Bulls to an 8-5 record and a win over Northern Illinois in the International Bowl, leaves USF with an overall record of 95-47 and 17-18 in Big East play. Carl Franks, who was the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator the last six years, was named acting head coach while the school looks for a permanent solution. Franks was head coach at Duke from 1998-2003, where he had a record of 7-45 before being fired.

In regards to who could be approached by the school, Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin is one name that has been discussed by the local media. Current USF staff members Franks, offensive coordinator Mike Canales and defensive coordinator Joe Tresey have also been mentioned by the St. Petersburg Times’ Greg Auman. The school has hired Chuck Neinas to assist in their search for a new head coach.

Other Coaching Changes

Cincinnati
Out: Brian Kelly (accepted same position at Notre Dame)
In: Butch Jones (27-13 in three years (20-3 MAC record) at Central Michigan)

The apple didn’t fall far from the tree in regards to the Bearcats’ search for a new head coach after Brian Kelly took the job at Notre Dame. Cincinnati hired the man who replaced Kelly at Central Michigan, and Jones enjoyed much success in his three seasons in Mount Pleasant. The Chippewas played in three bowl games during his tenure and won a pair of MAC championships. Add in Dan LeFevour Jones helped tutor one of college football’s most versatile quarterbacks, which should be a bonus when dealing with Zach Collaros in 2010. And Jones has experience coaching in the Big East as well, having been a member of Rich Rodriguez’s staff at West Virginia in 2005 and 2006.

Louisville
Out: Steve Kragthorpe (fired on November 28th)
In: Charlie Strong (formerly the defensive coordinator at Florida)

This was the one job coming into the season that many had their eye on within the conference; it was no secret that the Cardinals had to show significant improvement under Kragthorpe in order for him to keep his job. In his place is the highly-regarded Charlie Strong, whose first head coaching job is long overdue given his credentials. Strong led one of the nation’s best defenses this season to a 13-1 record and a win over Cincinnati in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, and he was also an integral part of two national titles in Gainesville. Coach Strong is also regarded as one of the nation’s best recruiters, a reputation that has already begun to pay dividends for Louisville and could result in a bountiful National Signing Day. Twice named a finalist for the Broyles Award given to the nation’s best assistant coach, Strong was a defensive coordinator in the SEC from 1999-2009.