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Butch Jones, Cincinnati agree to five-year contract

By on December 16, 2009 10:08 am in Football / 37 comments

 
Butch Jones, Cincinnati agree to five-year contract
(File Photo by Matthew Stephens)
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LAST UPDATED: 5:45 p.m. 12/16

Former CMU football coach Butch Jones and Cincinnati have agreed to a five-year deal for Jones to become the university’s next head coach.

The Bearcats introduced Jones on Wednesday afternoon in a press conference. CMU named associate head coach Steve Stripling its interim coach for the GMAC Bowl against Troy on Jan. 6 in Mobile, Ala.

Jones is the second CMU coach Cincinnati has hired away from the university. Kelly coached CMU from 2004 to 2006, winning the MAC Championship in 2006.

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Jones led CMU to a 27-13 record in three seasons at CMU. The team won two Mid-American Conference championships and will go to its third bowl game under Jones’ leadership on Jan. 6 in the GMAC Bowl.

No. 4 Cincinnati went 12-0 under Kelly this year and will play No. 5 Florida in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.

Cincinnati offensive coordinator Jeff Quinn was named the interim head coach and was preparing his team for the bowl game after Kelly’s departure last week. He will still coach the Sugar Bowl despite Jones’ hiring.

In 2006, Kelly left CMU after the MAC Championship. Before Jones was hired, Quinn was in a similar position and coached CMU to a 31-10 win against Middle Tennessee State in the Motor City Bowl as an interim head coach.

Check cm-life.com for more on this story.

 

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  • Daniel

    It isn’t always what you do, but how you do it. Do it right Butch and we will have fond memories of you and wish you luck. Abandon your ‘family’ and the Bearcats won’t buy into you.

  • Mook

    CMU and Dave – Hire Jeff Quinn asap. Save yourself a lot of work and headaches.

  • Neil Blake

    Deja vu.

  • CMUFAN

    Don’t be stupid and bitter once again Heeke. Hire Quinn before we are stuck with another GVSU coach who may jump ship in 3 years to Cincy. Quinn is a great coach and a great motivator. Don’t be stupid Heeke. We know how you handled the student tailgate mess. Think brighter when finding a head coach

  • Kelly

    Well guess what?? We cant even hire the GVSU couach even if we wanted to because he is leaving to work for big surprise Brian Kelly at Notre Dame. So now we are stuck with who again to coach us for the bowl game?? Maybe Dan can coach being that everyone else loves to leave. I’m sorry I’ve been a fan since the date we hired Butch but he is a hypocrite and a sellout as far as I’m concerned. Thanks for screwing us over Butch really. Hope Cincy is everything you dreamed of.

  • http://TheSSareback Tim Wojcik

    Good Luck Butch.

    To the team this is heart wrenching. It has to be. And a lot of you are going through it for the second time. It was difficult 17 years ago when it was rumored Herb was leaving for New Mexico. You guys are CHAMPIONS no one can take that away from you. Go out and finish this season in Mobile. You guys have made us all smile, piss and scream this season but you are our CHAMPIONS.

    To the rest of the Staff, let’s finish this season. Let’s show what you have. There are few of you there like myself that bleed the maroon and gold. Let’s put an exclamation point on this season. Let’s leave your mark and on this program and see what turns out. I wish you all the best.

    The Quinn debate. Is there something that we are missing here? This is now two stops in a row that he has washed right out as a contender for the head coach vacancy. What are we missing? He can sure command an offensive game plan. But there has to be something more to this if he has just been bypassed for the second time.

    FIRE UP CHIPS

  • http://TheSSareback Tim Wojcik

    Good Luck Butch.

    To the team this is heart wrenching. It has to be. And a lot of you are going through it for the second time. It was difficult 17 years ago when it was rumored Herb was leaving for New Mexico. You guys are CHAMPIONS no one can take that away from you. Go out and finish this season in Mobile. You guys have made us all smile, piss and scream this season but you are our CHAMPIONS.

    To the rest of the Staff, let’s finish this season. Let’s show what you have. There are few of you there like myself that bleed the maroon and gold. Let’s put an exclamation point on this season. Let’s leave your mark and on this program and see what turns out. I wish you all the best.

    The Quinn debate. Is there something that we are missing here? This is now two stops in a row that he has washed right out as a contender for the head coach vacancy. What are we missing? He can sure command an offensive game plan. But there has to be something more to this if he has just been bypassed for the second time.

  • mark

    I know the MAC is the cradle of coaches. But this is ridiculous. How can any MAC school build its program if after a couple good years the coach jumps ship. We are not alone in this. I wish there was a way to build the program to the point where we could have the money in the MAC to keep the good coaches and build the conference.

  • Allen

    The part your missing about Quinn is yeah he has the title of offensive coordinator.. But for the years Kelly was here and in Cincy it wasn’t Quinn calling the plays in.. 90% of the play calling was done by Kelly. I have a feeling this is why people don’t really look at him to hard.

  • J in Cincinnati

    Hey… can you guys go ahead and find our new coach? We will call in 3 years when Butch leaves for greener pastures.

  • Duane

    Butch won’t last three years in Cincy. The man’s a so-so coach who should thank QB Dan every day for the rest of his life for this big and final contract. Butch won because of Kelly’s recruits, not because of his coaching abilities.

  • CMU Alum

    Can’t believe Butch is actually going to do this. What happened to turning CMU into the next Boise State. What a sell out.

    I hope he knows what he is getting into. After a perfect season, there is nowhere to go but down.

    Fire up Chips and complete a great season by beating Troy in the GMAC bowl. I will be forever grateful for the fond memories this season.

  • Ed

    My biggest concern is the possibility of losing Antonio Brown. All the reports I’ve read have indicated his future at CMU was tied to Butch Jones’. I’m sorry to see Butch Jones leave, but that’s life. Everyone said “Butch Who?” when he was hired and things turned out well. There are many good coaches out there. CMU has a great program to offer. The pressure is on Heeke to position the opportunity properly and find the right guy.

  • CMU Alum

    Oh, and I think Quinn would be the right hire. He is the only coach to win one of the bowl games over the past 4 years.

  • Andrew

    CMU always has been, and will continue to be, a staging ground for talent on the upward move.

  • Derrick

    None of you would turn down a double is money. When Kelly left he made 880,000 at Cincinatti. Butch Jones is looking at getting a raise to 400,000. Who wouldn’t leave. It just like Kelly going to Notre Dame. Money speaks, you have to do whats right for you and your family. Make the money while you can.

  • Nick

    That is correct. As sad as it is, CMU will always be a stepping stone.

  • 75 Alum

    Look, we could be Western. Are there any rumors about their coach going anywhere? We can hire good coaches who keep the program going then leave, or we can hire someone who produces an adequate (mediocre) program and stays for years.

  • Chip ’89

    Hey Andrew,

    Ever heard of Herb Deromedi?

  • Melissa

    So is Cincinnati going to help us hire our next coach? They seem to be taking every coach we have.

  • Scott

    No but when Heeke hires the next coach he needs to put a “Cinci Clause” in the contract making the buyout $2MIL.

  • Bill Caldwell

    I’m going to give my first and last name here. I don’t care. I can’t believe that Butch is leaving. I flew in from Ca. this past Homecoming to watch a team with character, drive, and will to win. That is what CMU is stands for.

    I couldn’t believe what I was reading. I thought that Central finally had a coach with integrity, and commitment. Well, I guess I was wrong. We were all wrong! I want to tell all the young men at Central. That plan on going to the next level. DON’T DO THIS WHEN YOU GET TO THAT NEXT LEVEL. I guess Butch and forgotten what he said he wanted to do with the CMU Football program. I don’t remember anything about, “I”m going to leave in three years.” When you make it to the next level or you are going to commit to a program of any sorts. And you are in the public eye. “Choose your words wisley.” Don’t talk a big game and make yourselves look like, “Butch Jones.” If you are in it just for the money. Then go ahead! Make yourself look foolish.

    I want the whole team to take their frustration out on Troy! I mean it. Hit them like you have never hit anyone. I want Bryan Schroeder to keep running over people. Dan to hit Anderson a few more times. And not let up! Antonio to run back a few touchdowns. Do it for what Central Michigan University stands for!!! Do it for yourselves!! And if you are coming back next year!! Get ready to work!! FIRE UP!!

    Bill Caldwell 84′
    Marching Chip 81-83

  • Eric

    lol I like it Scott.

  • Dustin

    At the MAC Championship Butch Jones, referred to what Dan said, “Of always being a Chippewa.” Sorry Butch you will not always be a Chippewa 3 years as a coach is nothing. Do not compare yourself to Dan, who made you what you are.

  • http://cmlife chip90

    Jones didn’t have the guts to meet with team. Clear out your office Butch, next man in.

  • Wayne Lacy

    I have worked with Butch personally in 2000. He is a good coach, I am not so sure he is a “Head Coach”. But, please remember he recruited, in part the Seniors on this team. Jr’s in HS that became Frosh in 05, so he can recruit! He also played a part in some of the talent the DeDoard recruited, even though that guy stunk. Hew also has a presence out East for the “Big (cough) East” conference. It is a good fit, just unfortunate. We will see, I have already submitted my resume…we will see, I would be a company man and it would be a life time commiment.

  • Adam

    Looks like someone let go of the rope….

    At the very least I feel Cincy owes us a 1-and-1.

  • Bill Caldwell

    To the Defense,

    WOW..I can’t believe I left out the Defense. Nick and the boys! I want them all the win the Butkus Award that night!! Hit them, so they don’t want to go across the middle anymore. Intercept them, deep so you take away the deep threat!! And Nick and the linebackers…key on the run. And, the corner backs stay home!! I want the kickers and punters to kick’em deep!! Central will win that game! Think! Play Smart! Hit them! You will win!! Fire UP!!

    Bill Caldwell CMU 84
    Marching Chip 81-83

  • david saunders

    In order for CMU to be that Top 25 team that the AD and coach say is the university’s goal, the school has to immediately step up to the plate when hiring the next coach and pay a Top 25 salary. A Top 25 program should also expect sell outs every Saturday, and not have to expect to play on Wednesday or Thursday to appease ESPN2 or ESPN360. Jones is doing the right thing – moving on up the pay ladder. If you want a Top 25 program – pay the coach Top 25 salary. These were six great years for the Chippewas that we have to go back to 1976-82 to make any comparisons of great years. Finding a coach to follow up the Kelly-Jones six years will be hard. It’s the player, the student, who leaves the mark at their school and relishes those years more than any coach. The coach is an employee of the school – to be hired, fired or to leave for greener pastures.

  • Aaron

    CMU will never be a Boise State if they cannot raise the money that is needed to bring us to that level. Central is a school that doesnt have a large amount of money coming in to the program by Alumni, partially because we dont have alumni with lots of money. Until people start realizing that we have to give to the program to build it, CMU will always remain a stepping stone for coaches. This also goes for the MAC as a whole. Fans need to support their teams in the MAC and not spend money on other programs. Imagine the amount of money CMU could raise if they could get 30% of the alumni to give $10 to the program.

  • Pete W

    I have to start out by saying I feel that all professional athletes (even those making league minimum), professional coaches and most collegiate football coaches are overpaid. However, nobody should blame Butch Jones, Brian Kelly, or any other coach for leaving one school to pursue bigger and better things at another program….. CMU, like Cincinnati had every opportunity to keep Jones and Kelly respectively. However, CMU can’t afford what the Bearcats can, nor can the Bearcats afford what Notre Dame can. I would leave my job to make $10,000 more per year, so who in their right mind wouldn’t leave to make $500,000 more per year? The one thing I don’t like is the fact that these coaches gained the trust of their players, however both are sellouts and are “quitting” before the bowl games are played. They owe it to the players to at least finish out the season. Not a very classy move.

  • Scott

    Chip 90
    Are you certain Butch did not meet with the team?

  • lulz

    what is with all these people wanting to bring Quinn in? He’s a freaking coordinator and that’s been about it.
    Do you guys fully understand the game or are you just picking names out of your a$$es?
    Seriously, Quinn would blow donkey as a head coach.

  • Eric

    RE: Scott

    “Jones was unable to address his team in person prior to his departure from Cincinnati.” – Latest Article.

  • CMUMOM1

    Well,I had the best time, this past season, attending the CMU Football games. I work with all Michigan grads and got bragging rights all season. I raved about this team (still do) and how classy and great this coach was. Heck, I would leave my job for a decent pay raise but why do it before a bowl? I’m told because bowl games mean nothing to the coaches, but I can’t believe that Jones wouldn’t want to be there. Hopefully, Dan can motivate the guys and we can save face at the GMAC bowl..My daughter is on the dance team and heck, I watched each game, mostly.I wish continued success to the CHIPS!! IT’S ALL ABOUT THE “C”>>

  • Chris

    When did CMU become the coaching farm for CIN. BS

  • Vinnie Dawing

    So sorry, all of you who want Jeff Quinn as head coach. He signed on as head coach of the Buffalo Bulls. We get to play against him now.