After USF fired head coach Charlie Strong AD Michael Kelly explained what’s next
Following a blowout loss in the “War for I-4” rivalry game against UCF, the University of South Florida fired head coach Charlie Strong.
Strong’s third season with the Bulls wasn’t a good one as USF finished 4-8.
When Willie Taggart left USF for Oregon, the Bulls hired Strong, who previously was the head coach at Texas. In his first season in 2017, USF went 10-2 behind quarterback Quinton Flowers.
With Flowers gone, the Bulls began 7-0 before losing six straight games to close out 2018. In 2019, USF only won four games.
That led to Strong’s dismissal, and USF athletic director Michael Kelly spoke to the media at a news conference Monday about the decision and future of the program.
“We do not intend to use a search firm,” Kelly said. “Michael Kelly and associates will be the search firm.”
Here are some other highlights from Kelly’s press conference:
- Defensive coordinator Brian Jean-Mary was named interim coach. There are no games for him to coach, but he will handle the day-to-day duties while the Bulls look for Strong’s replacement.
- Kelly said Strong has a considerable buyout, but it’s not a lump sum payment.
- The decision to fire Strong ultimately was Kelly’s choice, but he did it in conjunction with USF president Steven Currall and USF’s board of trustees.
- There will not be a public comment on any candidates or potential candidates during the coaching search. The next public comment will be the announcement of USF’s new football coach.
- Kelly said he doesn’t have a profile in mind in terms of a previous head coach versus a coordinator to become the next Bulls head coach. The search is national.
- Kelly said it’s a critical juncture for the USF program.
- There have been many calls to Kelly about the future of the program so far, Kelly said.
- About former players taking to social media and tagging him in wanting to make the program great again, Kelly said he’s open to feedback and opinions, but ultimately there can be only one coach.
This story was originally published December 2, 2019 at 12:48 PM.
