Reports: Whipple finished at UMass
A 20-year honeymoon appeared to be on the rocks yesterday as reports circulated that UMass was set to part ways with football coach Mark Whipple in the wake of an unsuccessful second stint with the Minutemen, earmarked by a turbulent 2018 season.
If true it would mean Whipple, 61, was let go just days after UMass fell, 66-27, at fifth-ranked Georgia to conclude a 4-8 campaign as an FBS independent. Whipple went 16-44 since rejoining UMass in 2014, succeeding the unpopular Charley Molnar. Whipple, who guided UMass to the NCAA 1-AA championship in his first season with the Minutemen back in 1998, passed Vic Fusia earlier this season to become the program’s career leader in coaching wins with 65.
Whipple, who originally signed a five-year contract, had his contract extended to 2020 this past April. Whipple reportedly made between $450,000 and $500,000 with a buyout clause of $500,000 if he is let go before Dec.1 and $300,000 after that date.
There had been high expectations from within and outside the UMass football program once Whipple returned to the site of his earlier glory.
But this season the bottom fell out. Playing a bruising independent schedule replete with high-powered foes such as Boston College, Brigham Young and Georgia, the Minutemen struggled. UMass allowed 50 or more points six times. The low point came following a 58-42 shootout loss at Ohio University on Sept. 29 when Whipple blasted officials and used the term “rape” in postgame remarks. That earned the veteran coach a one-game suspension that was handed down by the UMass administration.
In a press conference held three days after the Ohio loss, UMass athletic director Ryan Bamford described the matter as “isolated” and not indicative of Whipple. But Bamford also said Whipple and the football program would be re-evaluated at the end of the season as is customary with all of the university’s varsity athletic programs.
It is not known how a Whipple ouster will affect son Spencer, who is on the football staff as passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach, or any other assistants.
Whipple was born in Tarrytown, N.Y., but grew up in Phoenix where he was an all-state performer in both baseball and football. Whipple led the University of New Haven to a 48-17 mark with two NCAA Div. 2 appearances in six seasons from 1988-93, then moved on to his alma mater Brown where he went 24-16 in four years. During his initial UMass stint, Whipple went 49-26 with three NCAA appearances in six seasons.
After leaving UMass following the 2003 season, he became quarterbacks coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers and was with the team during its Super Bowl run in 2005. He also coached with the Philadelphia Eagles (2008) and Cleveland Browns (2011-12) in the NFL, with a two-year stint in between as offensive coordinator at the University of Miami.