Army football coach Jeff Monken said job changes are just part of the business
When Jeff Monken traveled to the American Athletic Conference preseason football summit, he had an opportunity to renew some relationships with his fellow head coaches and make new acquaintances.
But as is the nature of high-financed college football, not all jobs are secure.
In the past two weeks, The American has lost two head coaches mid-season, which is not a common occurrence in the sport.
East Carolina head coach Mike Houston was let go a day after his Pirates lost to Army 45-28 on Oct. 19 to fall to 3-4. Defensive coordinator Blake Harrell was named interim coach for the remainder of the season.
“I'm disappointed that he's not able to finish the season with them and finish it out with those kids,’’ Monken said during his bye week with Army, “because I know he loves his players and I know he has felt a great sense of obligation to the to the players and the coaches, as well as to East Carolina. So I hate that that has to happen.’’
On Sunday, Rice fired head coach Mike Bloomgren, one day after losing at Connecticut, 17-10, to fall to 2-6. Bloomgren was in his seventh season and posted a 24-52 mark with the Owls. Army beat Rice 37-14 on Sept. 21 to fall to 1-3. Associate head coach Pete Alamar will take over as interim head coach.
Monken, 57, is coaching his 11th season at West Point, signing an extension earlier this year, and has been around the college profession since 1989 so he’s no stranger to the vagaries of the sport.
“(North Carolina and former North Carolina coach) Mack Brown told me one time, ‘This is a great profession, but a bad business,’’’ Monken said. “Sometimes it could just be a bad business because you have things like that (the firings) happen and people unfortunately lose their jobs.’’
“We are in a position that we understand when we get into it. … It’s just part of it,’’ Monken added. “Each university – East Carolina, in this case – has to do what they think is best for their institution and for their program and they’re entitled to do that, and they should do that. They should do the things that they think are best for their program and for their university, and I know Mike (Houston) understands that, too. … I’m certain he’s handling it like the true professional that he is.’’
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Though Army is the newest member of the AAC, Monken is by far the longest tenured head coach in the circuit, which saw seven new head coaches headed into the 2023 season. Currently in their fifth season are Jeff Traylor of Texas San Antonio and Ryan Silverfield of Memphis. Stan Drayton of Temple is in his third year. The second-year coaches are Biff Poggi of Charlotte; Tom Herman of Florida Atlantic; Kevin Wilson of Tulsa; Trent Dilfer of Alabama Birmingham; Brian Newberry of Navy; Eric Morris of North Texas; and, Alex Golesh of South Florida. Tulane’s Jon Sumrall is the only rookie head coach in the league.
Army hosts Air Force at noon ET Saturday on CBS.
X / Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Army football coach Jeff Monken reacts to AAC coaching changes
