Petersen to step down as Washington coach
LSU QB coach leads finalists for top assistant coach award
SEATTLE — Chris Petersen has always worked according to his own schedule.
During eight seasons as the head coach at Boise State he brought the Broncos into the elite of college football, never in a rush to land the next big job despite being courted constantly by higher-profile schools.
When he finally decided to jump to Washington in 2013, Petersen realized he needed a new challenge and Boise State needed a new voice in charge.
And now after six seasons leading the Huskies, 14 overall as a head coach and more than 30 years in coaching, Petersen has decided it’s time to step away.
“I’ll be a Husky for life, but now is the right time for me to step away from my head coaching duties, and recharge,” Petersen said.
Petersen unexpectedly resigned at Washington on Monday, a shocking announcement with the Huskies coming off a 7-5 regular season and bound for a sixth straight bowl game under his leadership. Petersen will coach the Huskies in the bowl game, his final game in charge of the program he helped grow back into national prominence.
Then Washington will be turned over to defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, who is being promoted and tasked with continuing the Huskies run of success over the past six seasons.
There will be no coaching search. Simply a succession plan that’s seemed to be in place for several years while Lake was being sought for other jobs around the country.
BROYLES AWARD:
LSU quarterback coach Joe Brady and Ohio State codefensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, both in their first seasons at their respective schools, are among the five finalists for the Broyles Award, which goes to the nation’s top assistant coach.
Baylor defensive coordinator Phil Snow, Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning and Utah defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley are the other finalists announced Monday.
AUBURN:
The Southeastern Conference has fined Auburn $250,000 after fans stormed the field celebrating an Iron Bowl victory.
It’s the school’s fourth violation of the league’s policy prohibiting fan access to the field or court. The SEC announced the fine Monday, two days after fans almost completely covered the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium following the 11th-ranked Tigers’ 48-45 win over No. 9 Alabama.
SOUTH CAROLINA:
Injured South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley says he’s leaving the Gamecocks to play a final college football season elsewhere.
Bentley announced his choice on social media Monday, thanking teammates, coaches and fans for their support during his time as a starter the past three-and-a-half years. The quarterback says he believed it was in his best interest to “transfer to play my final year of eligibility.”
Bentley will graduate on Dec. 16, meaning he could play immediately at his new school.
MISSISSIPPI:
Athletic director Keith Carter wants to find a football coach who can bring new energy to the program and excite a fan base that has grown apathetic.
Carter is seeking a replacement for Matt Luke, who was fired Sunday after going 15-21 in three seasons. Luke posted a 6-18 record in Southeastern Conference competition.
“We’ve got to find a head coach who can walk into a room, and absolutely take over that room and galvanize people, bring them back,” Carter said. Ï think people want to support, they want to come back, they want to come to Ole Miss football games, but we just lost some of that luster.
“I think bringing someone in who has energy, who can walk in and kind of own a room and be charismatic and make sure they’re talking about the future and vision of Ole Miss football, I think we can get people back quickly.”
Carter cited a lack of fan support and declining ticket sales as a reason for the change.
SOUTH FLORIDA:
Athletic director Michael Kelly hopes to have a new football coach hired before the national early signing date of Dec. 18.
Charlie Strong was fired Sunday, two days after finishing a 4-8 season with a lopsided loss to intrastate rival UCF.
“We understand the urgency of it,” Kelly said Monday. “I also don’t want to pin ourselves in on that. We’re going to work fast. If we get done faster, great. If we don’t, we don’t. But that is clearly a timeline that we expected. We certainly knew that’s a key part of it. So, we hope to hit it.”
Strong went 21-16 in three seasons but was 4-14 since starting the 2018 season with seven straight victories.
OLD DOMINION:
Bobby Wilder has resigned as Old Dominion’s football coach after 13 seasons.