Bryan Harsin won the Sun Belt Conference title in his first season as Arkansas State’s football coach, just like the two coaches who preceded him.
Then, just like Hugh Freeze and Gus Malzahn, Harsin left to take a job at a school with which he has deep ties before ASU could even play in its bowl game.
Harsin, 37, was announced Wednesday morning as the new football coach at Boise State, replacing former boss Chris Petersen at his alma mater, which is located in Harsin’s hometown.
One day shy of the one year anniversary of being introduced as ASU’s replacement for Malzahn, Harsin held a team meeting at 2 p.m. Wednesday to inform Red Wolves players that he had taken the job at Boise State, where had been a quarterback (1995-1999) and spent 10 seasons as an assistant coach.
“We’re coming home,” Harsin said in a statement released by Boise State’s athletic department. “One of the hardest decisions we ever made was leaving Boise. Wedid that so I could become a better coach, so I could one day have the opportunity to return as head coach. That day has arrived.”
Harsin was 7-5 in his lone season at ASU and won a share of the Sun Belt title. The Red Wolves lost three of their five nonconference games - two of which were to Auburn and Missouri, who met in the SEC Championship Game this past weekend - and then suffered a 23-7 loss to Louisiana-Lafayette on Oct. 22.
Harsin gave up play-calling duties after that loss, and ASU went on to win four of its final five games to earn an invitation to the GoDaddy Bowl for a third consecutive season.
Harsin reportedly interviewed in Boise, Idaho, a week after the Dec. 2 announcement that ASU would be heading back to the GoDaddy Bowl. He accepted the job Wednesday morning, and he is expected to be introduced during a news conference today or Friday in Boise.
ASU Athletic Director Terry Mohajir was at a GoDaddy Bowl function Wednesday in Mobile, Ala., and as of midday Wednesday had yet to speak with Harsin.
Mohajir appointed defensive coordinator John Thompson as interim coach through the bowl game, and he said he is confident in ASU’s future despite losing a coach for the second time in just 14 months on the job.
“We don’t look back. We look forward,” Mohajir said. “I’m excited for [Harsin] and his family. They’re good people. They’ll do well. We will get a coach. … Our goals have not changed.”
Right guard Steven Haunga said Harsin addressed the team for about 20 minutes Wednesday, and that the general mood from players was that they were happy for the coach who led them through a third consecutive transition.
“I didn’t want the rumors to be true,” Haunga said. “I was happy for the man that he got his dream job. He didn’t really say it like that, but you could tell that it was his dream to coach at Boise.”
Safety Sterling Young, who will play for his fifth head coach next year, said he has become immune to coaching changes.
“It’s how the business goes,” Young said. “It’s college. When you move on from high school to college, more than anything it’s a business. It’s something you’ve got to adjust to. I’m not too upset. I’m happy for him.”
It isn’t clear yet how many staff members are following Harsin to Boise State - four have either played or coached there - but all of the coaches must participate in the bowl game to get their bowl bonuses from the school. Harsin’s bonus would have been $25,000, and each assistant will receive a bonus equal to one month’s pay.
Unlike the past two searches that saw Freeze go to Ole Miss and Malzahn end up in Auburn - both coaches had previously been assistants at those schools - ASU will receive a substantial payment for Harsin’s departure. According to Harsin’s contract, he owes ASU $1.75 million within 10 days of notification that he is taking another job.
Freeze’s buyout after leaving for Ole Miss was $225,000, and Malzahn’s departure for Auburn came with a $700,000 buyout. ASU will have been paid $2.675 million in buyouts from coaches leaving since 2011.
“It would be a breach of contract if I don’t have it in 10 days,” Mohajir said.
That sum could help ASU in its current search, which Mohajir said initially started last Friday when he learned that Harsin would interview at Boise State.
The search will be conducted by Mohajir, ASU System President Charles Welch and ASU Chancellor Tim Hudson, the same group who lured Harsin from the University of Texas last December. Eight days passed from the time Malzahn left for Auburn and Harsin’s introduction at ASU on Dec. 12, 2012, but Mohajir said he doesn’t have a deadline for when he wants a new coach hired.
Several factors, including fewer FBS schools that have an opening and the availability of those conducting the search, could lead to this search taking longer.
“We’re going to take our time,” Mojahir said. “We’re going to be quick, but no hurry.”
Mohajir said there already has been interest in the job, which he said has been aided by yearly turnover.
When ASU opens the 2014 season next August, it will do so under its fifth head coach in five seasons. Steve Roberts resigned after the completion of his ninth season in 2010, followed by the one-year stints of Freeze, Malzahn and Harsin.
“What it tells you is we’re hiring good people,” Mohajir said. “It tells you that the program is strong, and whoever we bring in the program is going to be stronger.”
It is believed to be the first time since Kansas State went through similar transitions in 1944-1948 that a team from the NCAA’s largest classification has gone through five coaches in five years.
“If you think about it, it’s a good problem to have,” said Gov. Mike Beebe, an ASU graduate and a former member of its board of trustees. “I’m disappointed that Harsin left, but it’s a compliment to the program.
“When you lose three coaches in three years because they’re good coaches and because they’re doing a good job, it’s a much better problem to have than a coach that nobody wants.”
Information for this article was contributed by Claudia Lauer of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
What they’re saying
BERRY TRAMEL The Oklahoman
“While everyone is focused on the Texas job, maybe a little attention ought to be diverted to Jonesboro. For whatever reason, some really good jobs come calling on Arkansas State. … Any assistant coach who feels stunted in his hopes of landing a head coaching job would have to go hard after Arkansas State, which has become a force in the Sun Belt Conference.”
GEOF CALKINS Memphis Commercial Appeal
“Better to keep losing coaches [Arkansas State] than to keep firing them [Memphis].”
STEWART MANDELL SI.com
“Arkansas State suddenly producing more one-and dones than Kentucky hoops.”
Quoteworthy
“[Bryan Harsin] has more Bronco history than most people. … He was there for most of his coaching life.”
- Washington Coach Chris Petersen, Boise State’s former coach, to the Idaho Statesman
“I don’t think any coach is intentionally coming to take the job for one year. … Some of these jobs are very emotional and personal to these coaches.
- Arkansas State Athletic Director Terry Mohajir, on losing three coaches in three seasons
“You know, the only constant over the past 4 years has been the players and the fans. No doubt in my mind, we’ll be fine.”
- ASU quarterback Phillip Butterfield, on Twitter
Quick exit
Bryan Harsin is the third consecutive Arkansas State football coach to resign to take another job after spending only one season in Jonesboro. Each coach won at least a share of the Sun Belt Conference title and made an appearance in the GoDaddy Bowl, and each departure has resulted in a buyout that has increased with each new coach.
COACH YEAR RECORD NEW SCHOOL BUYOUT
Hugh Freeze 2011 10-2 Ole Miss $225,000
Gus Malzahn 2012 9-3 Auburn $700,000
Bryan Harsin 2013 7-5 Boise State $1.75 million*
COMBINED BUYOUT FIGURE $2,675,000 *NOTE The payment for Harsin’s buyout is due within 10 days of Wednesday’s announcement, which will be Dec. 21.
Sports, Pages 20 on 12/12/2013