College Coaches are Already Being Fired

I don’t like it when colleges are fired or step down in the middle of a season, barring health problems or scandals that are really distracting the team. Even with the most horrible season, I think it’s jolting to a team for a school to fire someone, and if a coach steps down mid-season, it says to me “I’m not committed and don’t believe in this team.”

Early this season, Western Illinois’ Don Patterson stepped down. I can’t fault him for the decision, as he’s battled tonsillar cancer in the past and is still feeling the effects, despite being cancer-free as of his last check-up.

Western Illinois coach Don Patterson (left) after Wisconsin's 35-10 win. Image: Newscom

However, two schools have already fired their coaches.

In Conference USA, Memphis fired head coach Tommy West after a disappointing season. West has made his voice heard, saying that the schools either needs to put more money into the football program or just bury it, shutting it down completely. West will stay until the end of the season, but this has to have a major effect on the team. They already have a losing season in the making, and this will only make matters worse.

The other school to give their coach the boot? Western Kentucky. ESPN has called the Hilltoppers’ season “horrific,” and I’ll agree with that assessment. This Sun Conference team is 0-9, which is making experts question whether this team is truly ready to be playing with the big boys. They’ve only been a FBS for a few years now, but are statistically last or nearly last in almost every category. David Elson will also be staying for the rest of the season, but is gone afterward.

So, we’ve now seen three casualties in 2009. Are there more to come before the end of the year and in early 2010? I’m sure some coaches will find themselves in the same boat soon.