By Jordan Long
The Colorado State Rams (CSU) ended the year at a disappointing 3-9 after a 52-10 blowout loss to the University of Nevada. After that defeat, CSU decided to let go of Head Coach Steve Addazio. Reports are that University of Nevada, Reno Jay Norvell will take over the job.
Addazio was hired by CSU on December 11, 2019. CSU fired Mike Bobo after 5 years. Bobo’s overall record with CSU was 28-35, a winning percentage of .444. That doesn’t sound great but at least Bobo helped Colorado go to 3 bowl games. Unfortunately, they lost all of them. Bobo’s team finished 2019 at 4-8. CSU hoped Addazio would help the program win. Addazio brought in 9 years of NCAA experience. He was the Head Coach of Temple from 2011 to 2012. Temple was 13-11 with him as Head Coach. He left Temple for Boston College where he went 44-44. His teams went to 5 bowl games and they were 2-3 in them.
This seemed like a hire to help CSU win again. CSU’s last winning season came in 2017 when they finished at 7-6. CSU was eager for Addazio to change the program back to a winning one. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Addazio’s first season was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic. CSU ended up playing 4 games but finished 1-3. This year the results were even worse with a 3-9 record. Overall Addazio’s record with CSU was 4-12.
CSU decided it was time to let Addazio go even though it was only 2 years which doesn’t seem like enough time to turn the program around especially since he really didn’t get a full first year. CSU will pay Addazio $3 million to buy out the remaining years of his contract. According to news.yahoo.com, Athletic Director Joe Parker said, “The decision we have made today is not one we take lightly. After a thorough review of where our program stands today and our outlook for the future, looking at the totality of factors, I felt this was a necessary step.”
CSU is expected to name Jay Norvall as their next Head Coach. If true, Norvall leaves University of Nevada, Reno, with a 33-26 overall record or a winning percentage of .559, not a bad record. The surprising part is why would Norvall leave for CSU when they play in the same conference, the Mountain West. Maybe he feels he needs a new challenge. Whatever the case is, Norvall must change the course of the football program. A way to start is to coach them to a bowl game in 2022. Winning the Mountain West Conference should be his goal depending on how long he stays at CSU. A few years of losing football and he will be out.
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