B-CU fires coach

DAYTONA BEACH -- The Alvin Wyatt era came to an end Monday when Bethune-Cookman University fired the Wildcats' all-time wins leader, the only head football coach to take B-CU to consecutive playoff appearances and the school's only coach to defeat archrival Florida A&M three straight seasons.

Wyatt's 13-year run -- the longest tenure in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference -- ended about 4:30 p.m. Monday.

B-CU athletics director Lynn Thompson summoned Wyatt and told him the news in a face-to-face meeting.

"It was one of the toughest situations I've ever been in professionally, having to have that conversation with Alvin Wyatt," Thompson said. "It's been a 13-year career that's included some great accomplishments. But after meeting with the administration, looking at the future, it was decided we needed to begin moving in another direction immediately."

Attempts to reach Wyatt weren't successful Monday. However, Wyatt spoke to at least two of his mentors -- NFL Hall of Famer Larry Little, a former B-CU player and head coach, and former B-CU athletics director Lloyd "Tank" Johnson.

"I called him today just to tell him to hang in there," said Little, the only B-CU coach other than Wyatt to win an MEAC championship. "He got another phone call and said he'd call me back. When he did, he said, 'They got me.' I'm highly disappointed in this decision."

Little said the Wildcats' success under Wyatt in the middle of his tenure -- when B-CU went to the NCAA playoffs after 11-2 and 9-3 seasons in 2002 and 2003, respectively -- may have spoiled fans and administrators.

"They don't realize how hard it is to keep a school like Bethune-Cookman on top year in and year out," Little said.

The 'Cats closed the season with a 42-6 loss to Florida A&M in the Florida Classic on Saturday. B-CU were 5-6 for the third time in the past four seasons.

Coming off an 8-3 season and 5-3 conference record in 2008, expectations were for B-CU to challenge for the MEAC championship. However, an 0-4 start apparently had more weight than B-CU winning five of its last seven games.

Firing the coach with a B-CU record 90 wins, three straight victories over FAMU from 2002-04 and a 2002 MEAC title caught many by surprise, including the players.

"I'm in complete shock," said senior offensive lineman Ryan Griffin. "To hear this about such an awesome coach is shocking. Growing up, Alvin Wyatt was the face of Bethune-Cookman. When I was in high school, and FAMU started losing the Florida Classic to Bethune-Cookman, that's the coach you'd see on TV. I can't believe coach Wyatt will no longer be with Bethune-Cookman."

B-CU had eight consecutive winning seasons from 1998-2005, compiling a 63-26 record.

"I think we just made one of the biggest mistakes we've ever made," said Johnson, who coached Wyatt when he was a player from 1966-69. "I can't believe it. Even with as difficult as this season was, the team still won four games on the road."

But the 'Cats have gone just 23-21 in the past four years. The slide started one season after the departure of defensive coordinator Pete Adrian and assistant coaches Kirk Mastro-

matteo, Jeff Parker and Mark DeBastiani to Norfolk State.

Thompson said B-CU will "move with deliberate speed" in hiring its next head coach so he "can get out on the recruiting trail and brand Wildcat football."

Thompson expects the next coach to possess knowledge of NCAA rules and have NCAA coaching experience.

"Being familiar with the fabric of Bethune-Cookman wouldn't hurt," he said.

Names surfacing include Mastromatteo and Parker.

"We have not zoomed in on any candidate," Thompson said.

sean.kernan@news-jrnl.com

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