southern fires richardson

[tampajag]

Add Southern to the list of schools looking for a new coach. Coach Pete Richardson got the axe this afternoon.

[tampajag]

THIS IS THE COMPLETE NEWS RELEASE FROM SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY:Baton Rouge -- Southern University Athletic Director, Greg LaFleur, has announced that the University has relieved head football coach, Pete Richardson and his staff, of their duties effective immediately.Damon Nivens, offensive line coach, will serve as interim coach until a replacement is named.Total compensation has not yet been worked out."We sat down and did what was in the best interest of Southern University", says LaFleur.The "Dean of the SWAC", Richardson's success as head of the football program has been well documented. Southern University had four, 11-win seasons and one 12 win season – the 2003 Championship season in Richardson's tenure. Richardson compiled a record of 134 wins and 62 losses in his 17 year tenure at SU. He also has 176 career wins as a head coach (.696 winning %) in his 20 years overall as a head coach. His 134 wins trailed on AW Mumford's 176 wins.Richardson's honors include being named the Black Coaches Association's Coach of the Year in 1998, five-time SWAC Coach of the Year (1995, '97, '98, '99 and '03), Atlanta's 100% Wrong Club's Coach of the Year (1995, '97, '98, '99 and '03), Washington D.C.'s Pigskin Club's Coach of the Year (1995, '98 and '03), the Kodak Region IV Coach of the Year (1995) and the Sheridan Broadcasting Network's Coach of the Year (1997 & 2003).Richardson's also had the distinction of being named the 1999 Nokia Sugar Bowl Louisiana Coach of the Year.No timetable has been set at this time for bringing in a new coach, although Lafleur added that "the process would begin immediately."

[danefan]

Man - tough expectations down there.

17 years and 134 wins is a pretty darn good record. 5-time SWAC coach of the year as well.

[dbackjon]

High expectations indeed

[tampajag]

People got spoiled at southern but with rising ticket prices, and other bad moves by the athletic department something had to give. Ane that meant the coach had to take the fall. You expect consistency when you pay a coach over 200K.