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Steve Stripling named interim football coach

By on December 16, 2009 5:34 pm in Football / 10 comments

 
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RAZKARGMSWAKEKE.20091216195432CMU Athletics Director Dave Heeke has named Steve Stripling the interim head football coach at CMU after Butch Jones was named Cincinnati’s head coach.

Stripling served in his first season as CMU’s associate head coach and coached the team’s defensive ends.

“I considered what would be best for our football program going forward from this day forward through the bowl game, how we could function most effectively and what would guarantee the best servicing and opportunity for our players to be successful,” Heeke said.

Stripling’s experience on other staffs played a factor in the move, Heeke said.

Stripling previously coached Michigan’s defensive line from 2005-07.

He also had several stints with other Big Ten schools, including two seasons at Michigan State (2003-04), four seasons at Minnesota (1997-2000) and 13 seasons at Indiana (1984-96). He was the defensive coordinator at Indiana in 1996.

With Stripling serving as the interim head coach, offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian and defensive coordinator Tim Banks can continue to execute their jobs, Heeke said.

“I looked at how we best keep our football organization structured to meet all of our needs,” he said. “I think we’ve got a great setup. It allows our coordinators to continue to do their job.”

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

 

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  • Eric

    whatever…

  • bob

    So what we doing in a search for next head coach? I am sure lots of ppl want it because we have a direct pipeline to cincy and notre dame. So shouldn’t be hard to fill with a good candidate!

  • Dustin

    Very happy to see that Butch Jones is NOT coaching this game.

  • http://TheSSareback Tim Wojcik

    I don’t believe Butch coaching this game was even an option. I am hoping there was no way that Heeke would even think about letting Butch coach this game. But once you have cut your ties you are done as far as I am concerned. I appreciate Butch’s efforts while he was the head coach and hanging in there while things were tough to start 07. I believe he was as genuine as you will find as a coach these days. The days have passed where you will have the loyalty of coaches like Herb, Joe PA, BO and Woody. Hey even the great Bear Bryant changed schools a few times. I am not going to hang anything over Butch. He seemed to understand where he was compared to others who held that position in recent years. So best of luck to Butch and his family in Cinn.

    I am a bit concerned over the interim position. Why I don’t know. It’s only one game right! I am not sure if Steve is ready for this. He has only been on campus for a year. I am not sure if he is quite a Chippewa yet even with his lifetime of coaching experience in the BIG TEN (we have had that here before). You have others on that staff that have been there for Butch’s entire tour and then there are those who know what it is to be a CHIPPEWA on that staff. But I wonder if this decision has anything to do with who might be leaving with Butch. I really hope it is not because of the BIG TEN experience.

  • JB

    I would like to see CMU go after Bobby Hauck of University of Montana to fill this position. Great record and going for second national FBS championship this Friday.

  • Gregarious

    Yes Jones is leaving and it sucks. But unfortunatley this is business and like the players said in the previous article: “it’s back to business.” Jones is a good coach but if he doesn’t capitalize on going to a bigger school now, it could be years before he gets the opportunity again. So I don’t blame him for that. Furthermore, I don’t think his coaching at the GMAC bowl would be for what’s best for the team. I mean come on, that’s like telling your girlfriend that you’ll take her to the prom, but you plan on breaking up the next day because there’s someone else that you’d rather fool around with regularly. Stripling is here now, the team respects him, and he wants to coach the game, so all hail Steve Stripling as Interim Head Coach.

  • Mitch

    Lets hear it for STEVE! Fire Up Chips in the GMAC Bowl! It doesnt matter who the coach is we will roll over troy with no problem whatsovever. Lets be happy for coach Stripling getting his first chance at a head coaching gig.

  • bob darbee

    New Coach? Jerry Kill

  • Logical Chip

    Really Bob?
    Doubt he would want a lateral move from NIU to here.

  • Logical Chip

    JB,

    Hauck is at his alma mater. Probably the best we could hope for in a young coach is ….

    What, did you think I would say Tim (defensive secondary still stinks) Banks?

    Anyone but him!