Cincinnati coach Tommy Tuberville to resign
Cincinnati coach Tommy Tuberville is resigning Sunday as the Bearcats coach, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Tuberville went 29–22 in four seasons with the Bearcats but finished 4–8 in 2016.
Tuberville, 62, has been a head coach at Ole Miss, Auburn, Texas Tech and Cincinnati in a decorated 21-year career that was highlighted by a 13–0 season at Auburn in 2004. If this is his last coaching job, he finishes with a career record of 159–99.
Cincinnati lost five straight to end the regular season in 2016. The program’s momentum stalled at a critical time for the university, as Cincinnati has ambitions to jump into a Power 5 conference. The Bearcats were considered to be among the frontrunners if the Big 12 expanded this season, but the league decided to stay at 10 teams, leaving Cincinnati as one of the top available programs outside of the power conferences.
The Cincinnati job is considered among the most attractive in the Group of Five because of its location, recruiting base and support from a university interested in making a jump.
Expect Cincinnati to look for a coach with an offensive pedigree, as the Bearcats went 13 quarters without scoring a touchdown at one point this season. Among the school’s targets will be Western Kentucky coach Jeff Brohm, Troy coach Neal Brown and Appalachian State’s Scott Satterfield. Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell and co-offensive coordinator Ed Warinner also have deep Ohio ties and could end up on the Bearcats list.
