| West fired as Memphis head coach University of
Memphis head football coach Tommy West has been relieved of duties as
announced by athletic director R.C. Johnson Monday. He will coach the
remaining three games, and a search for his replacement will begin
immediately. “Coach West certainly exemplifies,
as you have heard me say, the terms class, dignity and style and I want
to thank him for everything he has done to elevate the bar by which our
football program is measured,” said Johnson. “I
have asked Coach West to coach our final three games of the season and
would ask every Tiger fan to attend Saturday’s game against UAB as a
tribute to not only Coach West, but our seniors who have meant so much
to our program.” “The search will start
immediately for a new head coach and I will assure you that I have not
hired a coach nor do I have one in my back pocket that I will bring in
tomorrow. “I would like to move as fast as
possible for the sake of recruiting, but will not be able to address
media questions on a regular basis until the search has been completed.” West
has served as the Tigers’ head coach since 2001 and has led the squad
to a bowl appearance in five of the previous six seasons. West took the
U of M to its first bowl game in 32 years when the Tigers advanced to
the 2003 New Orleans Bowl. That squad defeated North Texas in the
post-season game and finished the year with a 9-4 record. West
also led the 2004 team to an 8-4 mark, and the 2005 squad to a 7-5
record, becoming only the second head football coach in school history
to win seven or more games in three straight seasons. The Tigers will host the Blazers in the Battle For The Bones on Saturday at 12 p.m.
|