College football coach who "retired" claims he was actually fired
University of San Diego football announced that head coach Dale Lindsey was retiring from the position, but that's not what he's saying now.
Asked about his retirement, Lindsey said he did not willingly retire from the job, but was told to leave.
"I did not f-cking retire," Lindsey told The San Diego Union-Tribune.
"I was shown the door and would like to coach. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it."
He added, "I wasn't planning on retiring. I know chronologically how old I am. But I don't function like an 80-year-old man.
"If you just sit at home, you become a vegetable — and vegetables die sooner or later. I've seen too many coaches work their ass off for 40 years, think they're going to go off to some golden parachute retirement.
"Then they're dead in six months. I don't want to be one [of those], nor do I intend to be one."
San Diego athletic director Bill McGillis was also asked if Lindsey retired from the job, and his response didn't make the situation any clearer.
"What I can share is that by every measure of success, Dale Lindsey has been absolutely tremendous," McGillis said.
"When you look at the vision of our athletic program, our principles of winning in the class room, winning on the playing field, and winning in the community, we have a model college football program and that is in large part due to Dale Lindsey's outstanding leadership."
Lindsey leaves San Diego with an 80-30 all-time record, finishing as the program's winningest head coach.
His teams made five appearances in the FCS Playoffs and won seven Pioneer League championships.
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