AD: Ron English fired for language
Updated: November 9, 2013, 2:08 PM ET
ESPN.com news services
Eastern Michigan says it fired coach Ron English after the school's athletic director received a tape of him using "wholly inappropriate language" while speaking to his team.
The explanation came a day after the school announced it had fired English without specifying the reason beyond its "commitment to our student-athletes."
[+] EnlargeMatthew O'Haren/USA TODAY SportsEastern Michigan's explanation of Ron English's firing came a day after the school announced it had dismissed him without specifying the reason beyond its "commitment to our student-athletes."
"We hold our coaches and staff to high standards of professionalism and conduct and there is no place, particularly in a student environment, where this language is appropriate," Eastern Michigan athletic director Heather Lyke said Saturday in a statement published on the school's athletics website. "The statements made by Coach English are absolutely unacceptable."
English had a record of 11-46 at Eastern Michigan.
"My decision to make a change in leadership of our football program was the culmination of a lot of factors including the comprehensive review of our program, the competitive performance and this tape," Lyke said in the statement. "Our primary interest is in the well being and success of our student-athletes and this will continue to be our priority in every decision we make and every action we take.
"My focus moving forward is on the quality of our student-athletes' experience as well as the search process for the next leader of our football program."
Offensive coordinator Stan Parrish will serve as interim coach. Parrish was coach at Ball State in 2008-10 and also led Marshall and Kansas State in the 1980s.
Eastern Michigan (1-8) hosts rival Western Michigan (1-8) on Saturday.
Updated: November 9, 2013, 2:08 PM ET
ESPN.com news services
Eastern Michigan says it fired coach Ron English after the school's athletic director received a tape of him using "wholly inappropriate language" while speaking to his team.
The explanation came a day after the school announced it had fired English without specifying the reason beyond its "commitment to our student-athletes."
[+] EnlargeMatthew O'Haren/USA TODAY SportsEastern Michigan's explanation of Ron English's firing came a day after the school announced it had dismissed him without specifying the reason beyond its "commitment to our student-athletes."
"We hold our coaches and staff to high standards of professionalism and conduct and there is no place, particularly in a student environment, where this language is appropriate," Eastern Michigan athletic director Heather Lyke said Saturday in a statement published on the school's athletics website. "The statements made by Coach English are absolutely unacceptable."
English had a record of 11-46 at Eastern Michigan.
"My decision to make a change in leadership of our football program was the culmination of a lot of factors including the comprehensive review of our program, the competitive performance and this tape," Lyke said in the statement. "Our primary interest is in the well being and success of our student-athletes and this will continue to be our priority in every decision we make and every action we take.
"My focus moving forward is on the quality of our student-athletes' experience as well as the search process for the next leader of our football program."
Offensive coordinator Stan Parrish will serve as interim coach. Parrish was coach at Ball State in 2008-10 and also led Marshall and Kansas State in the 1980s.
Eastern Michigan (1-8) hosts rival Western Michigan (1-8) on Saturday.
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