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A few weeks ago, interviewing with the NFL cost Boston College football coach Jeff Jagodzinski his job.
Tuesday, Hampton University followed BC’s lead.
Athletic director Lonza Hardy fired Jerry Holmes as the Pirates’ head football coach after only one season, and Holmes’ interest in the NFL was a primary cause. In a statement released by the school Tuesday, Hardy indicated he and Holmes had differences on the direction of the program, and he questioned Holmes’ commitment to the team.
He also announced the longtime assistant Donovan Rose, a Norview High and Hampton U. grad, would be the new coach.
“I felt a dire need to have atop our football program a coach whose commitment, loyalty and devotion to Hampton University were without question,” Hardy said.
Hardy told the Daily Press of Newport News that school officials had heard Holmes might be seeking jobs with NFL teams. Then, Holmes informed the school that he planned to interview with pro teams at this past Saturday’s Senior Bowl.
“We could not approve that,” Hardy told the newspaper. “He felt the need to go and do those interviews anyway.”
Jagodzinski was fired by BC in similar fashion after he was warned not to interviewed for the head coaching job with the New York Jets but did so anyway.
Hardy said he was especially concerned with the timing of Holmes interest in other jobs, given that national football signing day is a week from today. Potential recruits sometimes get nervous when the coach trying to bring them in to a school may be gone before they get there.
Rose was the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach in 2008 after spending the previous 17 seasons coaching the secondary at HU. He was an All-American at Hampton, then played several seasons in the CFL and NFL. He was with Winnipeg when the Blue Bombers won the 1984 Grey Cup.
Holmes had replaced Joe Taylor only a year ago when Taylor left for Florida A&M after 16 seasons as Hampton’s head coach. The Pirates, perennial powers in the MEAC, went 6-5 last fall, but they lost four of their final five contests, all to league opponents.
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Firing of HU football coach
In order to be successful HU football you got to take care of your people. Weather it be the AD or Doctor Harvey. You guys got to let the coach be a coach. Why do you think Joe Taylor was so successful???? He should still be at the university, but you guys are too heavy handed and cheap. I like many fans who support this team and this university are sick and tired with people who are not football people, making bad decisions for the program. Jerry Holmes and Joe Taylor are real good role models and good Christian men. They are the type of men who you want your sons to be like. Go ahead AD and Pres you are setting yourself up to be the doormat of the MEAC. Great Job Hampton athletic brain trust you really messed this one up. This is another example of common sense verses education. Or should I say lack of common sense. Go NSU!!!!!!!!!!!!
One and Out?
With a winning record, no less. Ouch. Sounds like there was a lot of behind the scenes stuff going on. At HU, that usually means that Doc Harvey wanted him gone.
One season
I could be wrong, but it seems to me that the A.D. should have known the direction that the head coach wanted to go before hiring him. This does not set a very good example for future coaches that may or may not be interested in H.U.