JACKSON, Miss.—Jackson State fired football coach Rick Comegy on Wednesday after eight seasons.
Comegy had a 55-35 record during his tenure and he led the Tigers to the 2007 Southwestern Athletic Conference championship. Jackson State had an 8-4 record this season, including an 8-1 mark in the SWAC. The Tigers lost to Southern in the SWAC championship game 34-27 in double overtime.
Jackson State spokesman Eric Stringfellow said during a Wednesday press conference that the decision to fire Comegy wasn’t completely based on his record, but a combination of factors.
The football program has had academic issues in the past, failing to meet the NCAA’s APR standards. Those numbers have improved during recent seasons.
Stringfellow said the next JSU coach would “recruit local” and players would also have “discipline as part of their DNA.”
“This isn’t just about wins and losses,” Stringfellow said. “If you’ve done your homework, you can see that coach Comegy has had some success. This is about the direction of the program and about our student-athletes, putting them in position to be successful.”
Stringfellow said Comegy will be paid a $50,000 buyout. Assistant coach Antonio Knight, who is also the recruiting coordinator, will lead the program while the university searches for a new coach.
