Post by Aggie One on Dec 8, 2008 13:00:00 GMT -5
www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20081208/SPORTS0403/812080306/1002/sports
ASU's Barlow fires defensive coordinator
By Josh Moon
Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow is now looking for two coordinators.
Sunday morning, Barlow notified defensive coordinator Tony Pierce that his year-to-year contract at the school wouldn't be renewed. Barlow also fired linebackers coach and assistant head coach Brian Williams.
"There is no tension or bad feelings -- this is just the business side of this," said Pierce, who has served as ASU's defensive coordinator since 2003. "He called me in and told me he wanted to go in a different direction. I said, 'God bless you and good luck.' I appreciate everything ASU has done for me and my family. And I appreciate Reggie for allowing me to hang around another two years after he was hired. He wants to go in a different direction now and that's his right as a head coach."
Several attempts to contact Barlow and Williams on Sunday were unsuccessful.
Barlow hinted early last week that a move could be made. In responding to rumors that he was possibly going to not renew Pierce's contract, Barlow didn't give a straight answer.
"I'll have to sit down and talk with coach Pierce and do our normal evaluation," Barlow said last Monday. "I'll have to see if he wants to be back. I know he's a guy who wants to be on the I-A level. He's a good coach and he's done a good job for us. But like I said, I'm a guy who's big on relationships and being committed to ASU."
The firing of Pierce will most likely not be a popular move among fans.
Pierce's defenses have undeniably been the strong suit for ASU the past three seasons and have consistently been ranked as one of the top units in the SWAC. Aside from last season, when a triple-overtime game against Tuskegee skewed the stats, the Hornets have ranked in the top three in scoring defense and ranked in the top five in total defense in each of the last four seasons.
"I can say that I feel like I served ASU well," Pierce said. "I take a lot of pride in that. These players here and the assistants that I've had, they all worked so hard to overcome the challenges in front us. I think the fans recognize what we've done. Hopefully, some others out there will, too."
Both Pierce and Williams were hired by former ASU head coach Charlie Coe when he took over in 2003.
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ASU's Barlow fires defensive coordinator
By Josh Moon
Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow is now looking for two coordinators.
Sunday morning, Barlow notified defensive coordinator Tony Pierce that his year-to-year contract at the school wouldn't be renewed. Barlow also fired linebackers coach and assistant head coach Brian Williams.
"There is no tension or bad feelings -- this is just the business side of this," said Pierce, who has served as ASU's defensive coordinator since 2003. "He called me in and told me he wanted to go in a different direction. I said, 'God bless you and good luck.' I appreciate everything ASU has done for me and my family. And I appreciate Reggie for allowing me to hang around another two years after he was hired. He wants to go in a different direction now and that's his right as a head coach."
Several attempts to contact Barlow and Williams on Sunday were unsuccessful.
Barlow hinted early last week that a move could be made. In responding to rumors that he was possibly going to not renew Pierce's contract, Barlow didn't give a straight answer.
"I'll have to sit down and talk with coach Pierce and do our normal evaluation," Barlow said last Monday. "I'll have to see if he wants to be back. I know he's a guy who wants to be on the I-A level. He's a good coach and he's done a good job for us. But like I said, I'm a guy who's big on relationships and being committed to ASU."
The firing of Pierce will most likely not be a popular move among fans.
Pierce's defenses have undeniably been the strong suit for ASU the past three seasons and have consistently been ranked as one of the top units in the SWAC. Aside from last season, when a triple-overtime game against Tuskegee skewed the stats, the Hornets have ranked in the top three in scoring defense and ranked in the top five in total defense in each of the last four seasons.
"I can say that I feel like I served ASU well," Pierce said. "I take a lot of pride in that. These players here and the assistants that I've had, they all worked so hard to overcome the challenges in front us. I think the fans recognize what we've done. Hopefully, some others out there will, too."
Both Pierce and Williams were hired by former ASU head coach Charlie Coe when he took over in 2003.
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