The timing may make it more difficult, but Drake University has started a search for a new football coach.
Former coach Rob Ash resigned to take a similar post at Montana State after leading the Bulldog program for 18 years. "June is not the ideal time to be looking for a head football coach. Our players report on August 5th and obviously they are on pins and needles, wanting to know who their head coach is," says Drake Athletic Director Sandy Hatfield-Clubb. "…It’s an awkward time but I think we’re going to move very aggressively pursuing candidates and I think we’re going to be able to make a good hire."
Drake officials have decided against naming an interim coach. "We thought a lot about an interim-type situation and that’s fairly awkward unless that’s somebody who, you know, ultimately we’d want to have here full time which begs the question: why don’t we make a full time hire?" Hatfield-Clubb says.
During his time at Drake, Ash led the Bulldogs to four Pioneer Football League championships and Hatfield-Clubb admits he will be difficult to replace. She says this is a perfect example of why you need to be prepared to search for a coach at any moment.