Shortly after the Georgia Southern Eagles won their last football game of the season against The Citadel with a score of 13-6 at Paulson Stadium, head coach Chris Hatcher was informed that his contract would not be renewed. His staff was also let go after achieving an 18-15 record over three years.
GSU athletic director Sam Baker stated, “After the coaches show, Dr. Core and I met with coach Hatcher to convey that the university decided not to renew his contract. This was part of ongoing discussions over the past week, and this decision was made independently of the game.”
The decision was made by a group including Baker, Dr. Ronald Core, and GSU President Dr. Bruce Grube, who will resign at the end of the year but confirmed his support for Baker’s leadership in the athletic department, emphasizing the need for strong athletic performance.
Baker cited the team’s lack of improvement as the primary reason for not extending Hatcher’s contract, believing that next season would not differ from the previous one. He emphasized the urgency to revitalize the program and attract a strong recruiting class, expressing the need for stability and a fresh start.
The search for a new head coach is already underway, with Baker indicating that timing is crucial for recruiting efforts. He noted that they would consider all possible candidates, including those connected to Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson, who previously excelled with the triple-option offense at Georgia Southern.
Baker acknowledged his responsibility for the program’s decline since its past successes and addressed rumors that academic standards hinder recruiting, stating that 18 exceptions were made in the last three years for high-risk players, of which only 40% remain.
Grube shared insight into Johnson’s past recruiting challenges at Navy, emphasizing that Georgia Southern’s admissions standards are not the root issue behind the program’s struggles.
Hatcher could not be reached for comments.
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