Featured Stories
Butch Jones to coach UC
By C. Trent Rosecrans, CNATI.com Posted December 15, 2009 10:50 PM ET
The University of Cincinnati has found its next coach the same place it found its last coach -- Mt. Pleasant, Mich. The Bearcats are expected to name Central Michigan coach Butch Jones as their new head coach as early as Wednesday, according to several sources.The details have not been finalized, a source told Cnati.com, and things could still break down. However, that seems to be more of a formality than anything.
East Carolina coach Skip Holtz also interviewed for the job, according to sources. Holtz also interviewed in 2006 before Brian Kelly was hired by the Bearcats.
The hiring was first reported by ESPN's Joe Schad.
Butch Jones
Jones was hired by the Chippewas after two seasons as the receivers coach at West Virginia. Previously he had spent seven seasons at Central Michigan. It had been reported that he also interviewed for the vacant head coaching position at Marshall.
According to Jones' contract posted by USA Today, Jones would owe Central Michigan a buy-out of $475,000 if he left before the Chippewas' bowl game. It would be $400,000 if he left following the "completion of the season" which "includes all regular season and any post-season competition."
Kelly's offensive coordiantor, Jeff Quinn, has been named UC's interim head coach and said he would coach the Bearcats in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.
"The only way I am not going to be there is if I am sitting next to the dear Lord above," Quinn said on Tuesday. "I have made it clear and we have an agreement that I will coach this football team, regardless."
Three years ago, then-interim head coach Pat Narduzzi had started the Bearcats' bowl preparations, but Kelly came in and coached the Bearcats in the International Bowl. UC's first practice for the Sugar Bowl is scheduled for Thursday.
A message left on UC athletic director Mike Thomas' voicemail was not returned on Tuesday night.
Categories: College, Featured Stories, Football, News, University of Cincinnati Bearcats
Tags: Brian Kelly, Butch Jones, Mike Thomas, Skip Holtz
Comments (1)
i love the hire, but my concern is the Sugar Bowl. I hope that Quinn and the rest of the staff are allowed to coach the team in the Sugar Bowl. That gives the seniors the best opportunity to win the game, and they deserve that opportunity in my opinion. I also think it would be classy if Butch Jones was allowed to coach CMU in their bowl game.
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