LINDSEY: ‘I DID NOT ... RETIRE’
USD’s announcement not how it happened, veteran coach says
The University of San Diego football team was summoned to Jenny Craig Pavilion at 10 p.m. Monday and told by Executive Director of Athletics Bill McGillis that coach Dale Lindsey was retiring.
Reached by the Union-Tribune on Wednesday morning, Lindsey differed with McGillis’ wordage.
“I did not (bleeping) retire,” said Lindsey. “I was shown the door and would like to coach. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.”
Asked Wednesday if Lindsey was fired, McGillis said: “What I can share is that by every measure of success, Dale Lindsey has been absolutely tremendous.
“When you look at the vision of our athletic program, our principles of winning in the classroom, winning on the playing field and winning in the community, we have a model college football program and that is in large part due to Dale Lindsey’s outstanding leadership.”
Asked again if Lindsey was fired, McGillis declined to directly answer the question, saying: “He is absolutely a fantastic head coach. He has demonstrated great integrity, values that match the University of San Diego, a commitment to education and mentoring his players in a way that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.
“And we look forward in the future to honoring him and celebrating a remarkable legacy.”
At 80, Lindsey was the NCAA’s oldest Division I head coach. In 10 seasons leading the Toreros, he became USD’s winningest coach, leaving with the same number of wins as his age.
His career record was 80-30, including 68-9 in the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League. Under Lindsey, USD won or shared seven PFL titles and advanced to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs five times.
“I wasn’t planning on retiring,” Lindsey said. “I know chronologically how old I am. But I don’t function like an 80year-old man. If you just sit at home, you become a vegetable — and vegetables die sooner or later. I’ve seen too many coaches work their ass off for 40 years, think they’re going to go off to some golden parachute retirement.
“Then they’re dead in six months. I don’t want to be one (of those), nor do I intend to be one.”
USD issued a press release Tuesday night saying that Lindsey “will retire from coaching at the University of San Diego.”
But Lindsey said he was told in a meeting with McGillis that he was no longer USD’s head coach.
“Anytime you’re called into the principal’s office, you know something’s wrong,” he said. “I didn’t get a reason. I’ve been fired before. You never get a reason. I can’t tell you any more than I was told, ‘You no longer work here. Goodbye.’ ”
Lindsey was hired as USD’s 13th head coach in December 2012, 22 days before turning 70. He had been the Toreros’ defensive coordinator the previous season. When coach Ron Caragher left USD for San Jose State, former Athletic Director Ky Snyder asked Lindsey to oversee the program while he looked for a replacement.
Weeks later, Snyder wound up hiring Lindsey.
Lindsey played nine years as a linebacker in the NFL, all but one with the Cleveland Browns. He was a teammate of legendary running back Jim Brown.
Outside of two years in the late 1970s as a high school head coach in his native Kentucky, Lindsey had never been a head coach. But in a vagabond career he worked as an assistant for 35 years — 20 years in the NFL, five in the Canadian Football League, three in the USFL, one in the World Football League and six years in college.
Not including his high school stint, he coached for 14 teams, including two stops with the Chargers and Redskins.
At USD, Lindsey was beloved by his players and respected for his blunt, disciplinarian style.
“The term I see flying around is unapologetically authentic,” said wide receiver Real Mitchell.
As a consequence for being late, missing a class, a weightlifting session or curfew, the Toreros had to perform “bricks.” They’d arrive at Torero Stadium at 6 a.m., then walk up and down the steps carrying cinder blocks.
“He was more concerned about getting kids ready for the next stage of their life than just playing football,” said David Ambagtsheer, a former USD linebacker. “Every practice was like a job interview.”
More than his coaching record, Lindsey said he is most proud of the Toreros’ high graduation rate.
“The ones graduating are making some real nice money,” he said.
As for his winning record, Lindsey said, “It’s a reflection of the players we had and the assistant coaches. All I had to do was turn in the starting lineup.”
“I loved every single second playing for Dale Lindsey,” said wide receiver Christian Brown, who has one year of eligibility remaining. “He reminded me of my high school coach. Very real, authentic. It was all about old school, hard work, the grind. Be the hardest hitter, knocking people down and picking them back up.”
While Lindsey lifted the football program to new heights, his teams slipped a bit the past three seasons. The Toreros last qualified for the FCS playoffs in 2019. USD won its final two games last season to finish 5-5, Lindsey’s only nonwinning season.
As recently as March 8, USD’s sports communications department released the 2023 football schedule with a graphic built around Lindsey’s picture.
“We were all pretty much caught off guard,” said Brown. “He was kicking strong in spring practice (last month). It was normal Dale, everything about hard work, discipline and getting better every day.”