College sports Stock Image | Pixabay January 16, 2019 12:36 pm BRUNSWICK, Maine — Bowdoin College has filled its head football coaching position with the hiring of William “B.J.” Hammer II. Hammer, who most recently was the head coach at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania, becomes the 30th coach in Polar Bears program history. He replaces J.B. Wells, who led Bowdoin to a 3-31 record over five seasons. At Allegheny, Hammer took over a program that was 1-29 in the three years prior to his arrival. The Gators improved from 1-9 to 3-7 before posting a 6-4 record in 2018. “With his most recent success as a head coach and proven ability as a defensive coordinator, educator and mentor, B.J. is uniquely qualified to lead our football program in the years ahead, and we are excited to welcome him, Emily and the rest of their family to the Bowdoin community,” Ashmead White Director of Athletics Tim Ryan said. “B.J.’s passion for … [Read more...] about Bowdoin College hires new head football coach
American football coaches association
College football coaches favor changes to targeting rule, no Friday night games
Syracuse, N.Y. -- College football coaches support changes to the targeting rule and would like to do away with Friday night games.The American Football Coaches Association proposed these and other changes this week at the conclusion of its annual convention in San Antonio, Tex.Coaches would like to see the targeting rule tweaked into a two-level penalty structure in an attempt to differentiate hits to the head with malicious intent. Targeting I would enforce a 15-yard penalty but carry no ejection or suspension.Targeting II would be deemed having malicious intent and would carry the ejection or suspension as well as the 15-yard penalty. Some coaches favor a longer suspension for players who commit multiple Targeting II penalties in a season. The current rule enforces the 15-yard penalty and automatic ejection from the game. If the ejection occurs in the second half, that player is suspended for the first half of the next game.“There is going to be subjectivity in the enforcement … [Read more...] about College football coaches favor changes to targeting rule, no Friday night games
Former UMaine football coach named National Coach of the Year
Former University of Maine football coach Joe Harasymiak has been honored by the American Football Coaches Association as the 2018 Football Championship Subdivision’s National Coach of the Year. Harasymiak led the Black Bears to a 10-4 record last fall and the team’s first Colonial Athletic Association championship in five years. Maine advanced to the FCS semifinals for the first time in program history. He left UMaine on Dec. 20 to accept a job as an defensive assistant coach at the University of Minnesota after three seasons as the Black Bears head coach.Others honored by AFCA as National Coach of the Year were Washington State’s Mike Leach (Football Bowl Subdivision), Lenoir-Rhyne’s Drew Cronic (NCAA Division II), Johns Hopkins Jim Margraff (Division III) and Morningside’s Steve Ryan (NAIA). The winners were honored Tuesday evening at the American Football Coaches Awards in San Antonio, Texas. < Previous Tuesday’s NBA roundup: 76ers win in … [Read more...] about Former UMaine football coach named National Coach of the Year
UPDATED — UMaine football coach Joe Harasymiak leaving for assistant job at Minnesota
Maine coach Joe Harasymiak coaches against Jacksonville State during the FCS playoffs earlier this month in Orono. (Portland Press Herald photo by Shawn Patrick Ouellette)Joe Harasymiak took the University of Maine football team to new heights this fall. And now he’s moving on after three years as the Black Bears’ head coach. Harasymiak, 32, is leaving Maine to become a defensive assistant coach at the University of Minnesota. The news Thursday came just five days after the Black Bears lost to Eastern Washington University in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision semifinals in Cheney, Washington. The semifinal appearance was the first for the UMaine football program. Harasymiak was traveling Thursday to join the Golden Gophers, who will play Georgia Tech in the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit on Dec. 26, and was unavailable for comment. One possible successor, Maine defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman, also left the program Thursday to become defensive coordinator at … [Read more...] about UPDATED — UMaine football coach Joe Harasymiak leaving for assistant job at Minnesota
UMaine’s Harasymiak honored by American Football Coaches Association
University of Maine head football coach Joe Harasymiak was named the Region 1 coach of the year Tuesday by the American Football Coaches Association. Harasymiak finished his third season as head coach by leading the Black Bears to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision semifinals for the first time. Maine finished the season 10-4 after being picked to finish eighth in the Colonial Athletic Association.Harasymiak was previously named the CAA coach of the year and the Gridiron Club of Boston coach of the year. He was also a finalist for the STATS FCS Eddie Robinson national coach of the year, finishing sixth in the balloting. Two Maine defensive players were also honored on Tuesday with selections to the STATS FCS all-America team. Senior linebacker Sterling Sheffield, who had 84 tackles (including 18 for a loss), nine sacks, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and an interception, was named to the first team while junior cornerback Manny Patterson, who had 47 tackles and 22 … [Read more...] about UMaine’s Harasymiak honored by American Football Coaches Association