November 26, 2006
Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter fired
Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter has been fired. The university will hold a press conference tonight at 7:30p local time, following a team dinner.
A decision was made by athletics director Lisa Love at some point prior to the game against the University of Arizona, and Koetter was aware that he would be replaced prior to the Territorial Cup game.He spoke with his team following the game, informing them of his likely impending departure.
Koetter also spoke with Wildcats coach Mike Stoops about the situation following the conclusion of the game.
Love is expected to talk about the decision at tonight's team football banquet. A press conference is set for approximately 7:30 p.m. in conjunction with the event.
Koetter is expected to issue a statement about the decision following the banquet.
A decision on Koetter's role in Arizona State's bowl game is also expected at tonight's presser.
Koetter leaves ASU with a 40-33 record through six seasons, but his record against ranked teams -- just 2-19 against top 25 competition -- proved his undoing. Koetter is signed through 2009 and may be owed as much as $2.85 million in guaranteed money.
Comments:
Tommie Trojan said:
posted on November 27, 2006 12:23 PM — 64.32.153.19 — link — abuse?
Although Arizona State finished up at what 7-5, which was okay in the Pac 10, they may have been more like 9-3 with Sam Keller at the contols. They were a much more dangerous team with Keller in there. Koetter made a real bad mistake for his program, by demoting the injured senior Sam Keller, in favor of the sophmore Rudy Carpenter. They were probably already paying for that mistake in recruiting this year. Nebraska, with Bill Callahan trying to make Nebraska a QB school, wasted little time in getting this guy Keller on board. Nebraska will have a legitimate airial game next year and very dangerous.
Nope, Koetter blew it by giving into "some players" who wanted Carpenter - thus, relinquishing control of the ship. The inmates were running the asylum. He had to go.Tommie T
SNDVLS1 said:
posted on November 27, 2006 1:59 PM — 70.56.178.16 — link — abuse?
Please, Keller had nothing to do with it.
The biggest problem for ASU this season was not the QB position, it was the recieving corps. The seniors (Richardson, Lewsi) were either injured or suspended for half the season, and the other half they were so ineffective that they were listed below half a dozen freshman recievers. Burgess, the best player behind Zach Miller, was injured for most of the season and/or spent his time at cornerback.
Tommie Trojan said:
posted on November 27, 2006 2:39 PM — 64.32.153.19 — link — abuse?
SNDVLS1:
So, your saying that he was fired because of injuries to his wide receivers and backup TE? Oh, and that the youngsters didn't come thru? I think there is a little more to it than that. He even had a decent season and finished up by knocking down a real hot team in Arizona. Nope, more to it than that.
Tommie T
So Cal USMC said:
posted on November 27, 2006 8:07 PM — 204.62.68.23 — link — abuse?
Koetter/ASU; I was surprised A State actually beat Arizona... all-n-all Coach Koetter didnt do all that bad at ASU, with a solid Defensive Coordinator, ASU coulda become something. But he probably should be an Offensive Coordinator somewhere that needs it... reversal of roles, maybe he can become Dan Hawkins' Off-Coord in Colorado.
Trojanbeast said:
posted on November 28, 2006 4:21 AM — 24.182.40.18 — link — abuse?
Koetter is a total loser. He was supposed to be the coach but he acted more like a bad parent who indulges every whim of a spoiled child. How could he give in to pressure from QB Carpenter (and some players)? BTW, Carpenter was just a sophomore who probably had a couple of promising years ahead of him. Keller on the other hand, was a good QB who has proven himself and who had been in the trenches for Koetter. Where's the loyalty? It should have been easy for Koetter to convince Carpenter that the team would be his in the upcoming years but for this year, it was Keller's team. But NO, Koetter had to play to the choir, and predictably came out on the losing end. Totally serves him right. He deserves whatever's coming to him.
On a lighter note: Fight On! And Beat the Bruins!
TrojanBeast said:
posted on November 28, 2006 4:23 AM — 24.182.40.18 — link — abuse?
Koetter is a total loser. He was supposed to be the coach but he acted more like a bad parent who indulges every whim of a spoiled child. How could he give in to pressure from QB Carpenter (and some players)? BTW, Carpenter was just a sophomore who probably had a couple of promising years ahead of him. Keller on the other hand, was a good QB who has proven himself and who had been in the trenches for Koetter. Where's the loyalty? It should have been easy for Koetter to convince Carpenter that the team would be his in the upcoming years but for this year, it was Keller's team. But NO, Koetter had to play to the choir, and predictably came out on the losing end. Totally serves him right. He deserves whatever's coming to him.
On a lighter note: Fight On! And Beat the Bruins!
JT said:
posted on December 9, 2006 11:10 PM — 63.228.149.51 — link — abuse?
this is some BS, and why arizona FOOTBALL HAS either stunk or been mediocre since FOREVER. ASU& THE CARDINALS MAINLY THEY JUST DONT STICK THINGS OUT LONG ENOUGH, AND THEY ALWAYS CAST THE BLAME ON THE WRONG INDIVIDUAL OR UNIT.
Please note that all comments are subject to the Fanblogs Comment Policy.
Gatorpilot said:
posted on November 26, 2006 7:54 PM — 71.42.27.135 — link — abuse?No big surprise.
Best headline on this has been over at the NCAA Fanhouse: "Keller Cackles as Koetter Canned"
http://ncaafootball.aolsportsblog.com/2006/11/26/keller-cackles-as-koetter-canned/