Mickey Matthews Fired by JMU
This morning Athletic Director Jeff Bourne announced that Head Football Coach Mickey Matthews would not be retained by JMU and a “national search for a replacement” would begin “immediately.” While the staunchest old-boys club MM defenders may quibble about the tone of the announcement given all that Mickey has meant to JMU, we were stunningly impressed by the decisiveness and direction of this move from JMU’s administration.
First, a reminder: The decade and a half with Mickey have brought JMU football to its highest peaks ever. A National Championship, six playoff appearances, BFS, 21-16, and pretty much everything from ’08 (Landers, Scottie at UR, hail mary at ‘Nova). We’ve recruited better, been a conference and national player, and raised expectations to a level that ultimately, and correctly in our opinion, cost Mickey his job. It should be stated without equivocation that whatever happens from here on out, with apologies to McMillan, MM is the godfather of this program and we’ll be absolutely looking forward to that day five or ten years from now when JMU brings him back for induction into the JMU Hall of Fame and unveils a visor-throwing statute of the man.
Second, another reminder: A man lost his job today, his son may have lost his job today, and it’s entirely possible that most of the staff may have lost their jobs today. When any town has a few dozen people, including extended friends and family, put out of work, it’s not exactly time to rejoice. But when it happens in a small college town like Harrisonburg, even the most cynical and rabble-rousing of bloggers need to keep in mind this isn’t completely a Hallelujah moment.
But…we can’t stress enough how impressed we were by the apparent gameplan and execution that seemed to go down on this from the administration. With Bourne off chairing the FCS playoff selection committee this weekend we never thought we hear this quickly. And best of all, given JMU’s penny-pinching history, we really weren’t sure we’d see this go down with MM having one year at $231k left on his deal. This signals a big change at the highest levels. Rose wouldn’t have signed off on this, Alger clearly did, and that’s very exciting! Also, if you’re into tea leaves, this of course looks more like the move of a school in need of fresh energy that’s about to make a big move as opposed to a school continuing to monitor and maintaining the status quo. Same with the fact that Carr Sports Consulting, of the FBS report fame, will be assisting with the search for a new OBC. Gotta think they cast a wider net and are able to pass along info (like conference plans) more privately than JMU can on their own.
The only thing we’ll say about the conference situation today is that we confess we were overreacting, ok I was overreacting, to Bourne’s comments that “at this time, we’re looking for an FCS coach” and that “this is the best job in FCS.” Those comments came long after the “we expect to be involved in ‘post-season play'” instead of of ‘playoffs’ and after we’d seen JMU carry out a flawless and no-wasted-time plan they clearly had made contingencies for in advance. Overall, as much as we’ll miss the MM era, today couldn’t have been executed more perfectly from an overall JMU perspective. After all, it’s seriously hard to believe that 48 hours after that Towson game and 8 days after missing the playoffs again that we’re completely excited again about JMU Football?! That’s gotta be a good sign.
Speculation
Look, we don’t know anything, and other than maybe the Daily-News Record’s intrepid beat writer @MatthewStoss, we’re not sure anyone else does either. But we do know a few things. First, generally we’d MUCH, MUCH rather have a hungry, possibly younger, FBS coordinator type than ANY of the more local, obvious JMU targets, most of whom are retreads. In most cases, we don’t want these guys because they have already proven incapable of adapting to the modern innovative game, much like the man we just let go. For example, beginning with names we least want to hear about that have already been mentioned and moving down, we don’t want to ever mention the following names on here again: Stinespring (ask any VT fan about that offense), London (proven twice he can only win with other players while proving nothing else), Lazor (nice guy been on lots of incompetent staffs in college and pros), and Ambrose (Towson coach, good coach, seems to be a huge asshole that players don’t like). e
On the other hand, Stoss’ confirmation of interest from University of Arizona Offensive Coordinator Rod Smith, a Franklin, West Virginia native make us happy. Same with current Oakland Raiders QB coach and former Duke Jon DeFillipo, though we’re not sure his resume is quite polished enough.
In general, even if we can’t quite “dream big” on what conference the Dukes may end up in, there’s no reason not to do so on the coaching search. Yes, budget is always an issue, but more than anything we just don’t want something that sounds like it’s just Bourne and “folks he knows” in the discussions or just an old, regional name of note. For that reason, we love the news from Stoss that Carr Sports Consulting is assisting with the search and hope it truly will take a look at LOTS of factors with a progressive viewpoint.
The bottom line for all the apologists is this: in ANY job, you have a set of performance standards. You must meet them annually in a performance review or you get a warning and then get fired. That is how it works. Anything you did in prior years doesn’t really matter. In this case, making the playoffs was considered “fully successful”, and he got his warning prior to the season. Meeting expectations once in the past 5 years, and finishing in 9th place in the conference after being put on probation, was not meeting expectations. That’s all there is to it.
People need to stop making it personal. This is how 99/100 jobs in any industry on this planet work.
Part of the coaching profession in both college and the NFL is that coaches RARELY retire and ride off into the sunset. Almost all of them either get fired or forced into retirement. That’s just part of the game, and you accept it when you choose coaching as your career path.
I think we can all agree to stay away from the Marist coach….
2004 Duke, we absolutely agree with you that this comes with the territory for anyone that gets into coaching. Todd and I just wanted to make it clear, we’re excited about the opportunity this presents for JMU going forward and not simply celebrating the fact that a man got fired. It’s a business and this absolutely was the right move for JMU.
The man that got fired yesterday is going to get paid $200K+ next year to do nothing right? You’ll excuse if I save my tears.
@Lively98:
yessir; that’s the way it works — the university terminated coach matthews employment prior to the end of his contract with jmu. therefore, the university assumes fiduciary liability for the unfulfilled term on the contract. if coach matthews had resigned, he may have forfeited that 231k — depends on the contract language.
additionally, there may be language in the contract that if coach matthews accepts employment with another school or pro team, the amount owed him by jmu would be reduced by the amount of his new contract.
i would hope coach matthews takes the time off, finds a way to re-energize on a personal level and enjoys what most professionals don’t get — true quality time with his family.
the constant moving associated with the coaching profession is often toughest on families; i moved myself or my family 15 times between 1989 and 2007 due to my military service so i have some understanding. the constant upheaval wears on everyone; you sort of get numb to it after a while, but honestly, after i retired, it took some time before i realized that the moving trucks weren’t coming again.
“i would hope coach matthews takes the time off, finds a way to re-energize on a personal level and enjoys what most professionals don’t get — true quality time with his family.”
What he said.
I wish I could take a year off from work and get paid $200k to play golf. It’s not like a coach of his caliber isn’t going to find a D-coordinator or HC job fairly easily. It’s just not going to be at a primetime program.
Here are my thoughts Steve Logan with Tampa Bay, Bobby Wilder ODU, and JMU’s John Defilippo, or if he would stay in one place, Kenny Rogers(family friend with experience been all over) OC at W&M…anyone else???
@ 2004 Duke:
i’d like to do that too; instead i roll out every day and teach high school, coach a rifle team, drive buses for sports teams, and do public address for football and basketball. doesn’t pay me 200k, but then again i didn’t opt to become a teacher for the money.
i agree that if he wants to work, he will find work. wonder if he’ll look to fbs or stay fcs (elon?)
NO WAY that Bobby Wilder leaves the program he built from scratch at ODU. No chance.
Yeah Wilder won’t leave. Unlike at ODU, JMU requires their football team to play all 60 minutes.
*Up top JMU2011. It was nice seeing UNC put up 80 on them. i thought it was basketball for a minute.
I hate ODU but his last 5 years 9-2. 8-3, 10-3, 11-2, 8-4 with 4 loses this year to Div.1 with Div.1aa players? Not bad 2-0 against us? plus Money Talks don’t ever say never…what is he making at ODU? I see him on TV down here seems like a go getter…just a thought? maybe after giving up 80 he wants to leave…LOL…who’s your coach of the future…?
He made ~$450K in 2013. Up to ~$550K in 2015. Any school hiring him would have to pay 800K to ODU this season. He has built that program in such an improbable fashion and I would to see that youth and vigor at BFS but I just don’t see it happening.
Source: http://hamptonroads.com/2013/08/odus-bobby-wilder-gets-new-contract-pay-increase
Sure everybody with a poverty mentality would want $200k for a year off. But that’s the insurance you get when you sign a contract in a high pressure job. I doubt he’s the kind of guy who would want to sit around and collect a paycheck. Besides, Matthew’s salary is actually pretty low for a collegiate coach.
(Just to get it started) Coach List:
-Steve Logan
-John DiFillipio
-Craig Bohl
-Skip Holtz
-Dave Clawson (puke)
-Mike London (double-puke)
-Bud Foster
-Pat Narduzzi
What I’m looking for in a new coach:
1. Have a motivating personality that will convince people to give money.
2. Win
I would make offers to these guys without even doing an interview:
-Steve Logan
-Craig Bohl
-Skip Holtz
A little off the radar but I am hoping JMU gives Chris Beatty a look. He was a solid HS coach in the VB area and has bounced around at the college level over the past decade or so. Maybe he would be better suited as a OC rather than a HC but someone with an exciting offense and good recruiting in the 757 area would be helpful in combating the recruits ODU is taking away from JMU.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Beatty
Definitely agree that a young (30-45), exciting coach is something JMU could use. Still worry though that they will try to bring on someone that has the FBS pedigree to get the program started (like Billy Curry attempted at Georgia State).
Burger-
Chris Beatty is a solid, solid coach. Helped to fame by the amazing talent that is/was Percy Harvin. While he would certainly aid in local recruiting both from NOVA and Hampton Roads, my biggest concern is that he has never lasted more than 3 seasons anywhere at any level… something seems off.
Schoner-
Unfortunately I’m not privy to rational behind all those changes, I believe a few of his changes are due to the HCs being fired and therefore the staff not being retained. As was mentioned by a few other people above, what I really want to see is some new blood and creativity with the O. Micky changed the football scene at JMU and it’d be great if we could get a coach that could take another step forward.
1. “He was a solid HS coach ” ….Don’t care.
2. He seems to have gotten fired a lot. In MM defense, he’s only been fired once.
1. ok
2. cool story bro
Think Chris Malone should get a look. He got flushed as cover for MM last year, I spoke with several former JMU OL starters who said he was the best coach on that team.
Chris Malone took over the OL after Curt Newsome went to VT and right when we started to suck. Not sure about that.
…He also coached “NFL-prospect” Josh Wells to a NCAA record for penalties in a season.
(Sorry…I had to.)
I can’t decide if I’m more worried about JMU hiring a no-name coach who is a total question mark, or an well-known coach that makes us all groan.
Fingers crossed.
2004 Duke for HC
While our recent experience with ex -VT coaches has been underwhelming, I’m hoping Torrian Gray surfaces as a candidate. Gray is a 39 year old guy with top shelf college and NFL experience as both a player and coach. He hasn’t been a DC yet, but appears to be the heir apparent if Foster ever gets an offer he can’t refuse.
He is a grounded, high energy guy that has produced great results for his position group (DB’s) year after year finishing up his 14 year as a coach.
http://www.hokiesports.com/staff/gray.html
I’m all for good suggestions, and Gray in particular sounds like a good one, but we just REALLLLLLLY hope they seriously look outside of the JMU/VT/UVA scene. Bourne has made clear he considers this to be a “national” job, clearly signaling FBS on the horizon, and for that reason we’ve got to think bigger than the small-town mentality we’d be showing with some of those mentioned here. Also, it’s pretty clear this is a 300k/yr. job if it’s FCS and closer to 500k/yr. if it’s FBS and probably something in between if it’s transitional.
For the record, Wilder makes more already and ain’t leaving ODU for JMU and Ambrose will be at UConn a week after Towson chokes out to Fordham.
Oh yeah if UNH happens to win their first round game then the CAA is guaranteed at least one team in the Quarterfinals otherwise I expect all of the CAA teams to be gone by then.
I will never attend a football game again if Bud Foster is ever seriously considered for a head coaching job at JMU…
I have decided that I want Ed Orgeron as the new head coach of JMU if he will have us. Something tells me he will get offers from betters programs than JMU though.