BaltimoreTerp
12-02-2008, 10:35 PM
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/football/bal-towson1202,0,2948271.story
Gordy Combs, Towson University's football coach, was fired today after a 17-year career in which he finished just above .500. School officials said they have begun a nationwide search to find his replacement.
Only the third head coach in Towson's 40-year football history, Combs leaves with a 92-90 record and two years remaining on a contract extension he signed in 2007. The Tigers have struggled of late, winning three games in each of the past two seasons despite a ballyhooed offense and great expectations.
"It was a difficult decision, but I believe it's time for Towson football to make a coaching change," athletic director Mike Hermann said in a statement. "We have not had the competitive success that we expect over the past two seasons."
...
Combs' departure ends his 39-year tenure with Towson football, where he starred as a linebacker (1971-72) before joining the staff as an assistant coach, serving for 19 years. In 1992, he replaced Phil Albert as head coach, taking the program from a 1-10 record to 8-2 in two seasons.
38 years at the school as a player, assistant coach and head coach.
Part of me feels sad for him, since he obviously loves the school and wanted to be the coach here.
The other part says that he has gone 3-8 three of the past five years, with only three wins in four of eight, including the past two with probably the most talent he has had at the school. Something isn't working anymore.
I wonder how much play this is going to get on campus, since Towson just doesn't seem like the most rabid campus when it comes to sports, when there is no reason why it shouldn't be.
It would be curious as well what direction the school goes with the next coach. Combs was only the third coach in 40 years at Towson, so they obviously like keeping things in-house and long-term. However, the basketball team went out at got Pat Kennedy a couple years ago, so they could go the established-retread (not in a bad way) road in this sport, too.
This was my favorite part of the article, though:
"Maybe I'll pay to sit in the stands. Or maybe I'll jump the fence. I know all the little ways to get into the stadium without buying a ticket."
:laughlol:
Gordy Combs, Towson University's football coach, was fired today after a 17-year career in which he finished just above .500. School officials said they have begun a nationwide search to find his replacement.
Only the third head coach in Towson's 40-year football history, Combs leaves with a 92-90 record and two years remaining on a contract extension he signed in 2007. The Tigers have struggled of late, winning three games in each of the past two seasons despite a ballyhooed offense and great expectations.
"It was a difficult decision, but I believe it's time for Towson football to make a coaching change," athletic director Mike Hermann said in a statement. "We have not had the competitive success that we expect over the past two seasons."
...
Combs' departure ends his 39-year tenure with Towson football, where he starred as a linebacker (1971-72) before joining the staff as an assistant coach, serving for 19 years. In 1992, he replaced Phil Albert as head coach, taking the program from a 1-10 record to 8-2 in two seasons.
38 years at the school as a player, assistant coach and head coach.
Part of me feels sad for him, since he obviously loves the school and wanted to be the coach here.
The other part says that he has gone 3-8 three of the past five years, with only three wins in four of eight, including the past two with probably the most talent he has had at the school. Something isn't working anymore.
I wonder how much play this is going to get on campus, since Towson just doesn't seem like the most rabid campus when it comes to sports, when there is no reason why it shouldn't be.
It would be curious as well what direction the school goes with the next coach. Combs was only the third coach in 40 years at Towson, so they obviously like keeping things in-house and long-term. However, the basketball team went out at got Pat Kennedy a couple years ago, so they could go the established-retread (not in a bad way) road in this sport, too.
This was my favorite part of the article, though:
"Maybe I'll pay to sit in the stands. Or maybe I'll jump the fence. I know all the little ways to get into the stadium without buying a ticket."
:laughlol: