Updated: Nov. 26, 2006, 7:36 PM ET
Report: Koetter out as Sun Devils coach after 6 yearsAssociated Press
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State fired coach Dirk Koetter, who led his team to a bowl the last three seasons but rarely beat the best in the Pac-10.
Athletic director Lisa Love was expected make the announcement Sunday after the team's annual awards banquet Sunday night in Scottsdale, a source close to the program said. The source asked not to be identified because the announcement was pending.
Koetter went 40-33 in six seasons at ASU. There was no word on whether Koetter would coach the team in a bowl game.
The Sun Devils completed a 7-5 regular season with a 28-14 victory over rival Arizona in Tucson on Saturday, clinching their third consecutive postseason berth. He went 4-2 against the Wildcats.
The firing was first reported by the East Valley Tribune on its Web site.
Koetter's dismissal comes less than a year after Love gave him a contract extension through the 2009 season. The deal called for Koetter to be paid $2.85 million from 2007 to 2009.
It's the second time in seven years the school has fired a coach with a winning overall record after he earned a bowl berth. Koetter succeeded Bruce Snyder, who went 58-47 in nine seasons and was dismissed despite getting to the Aloha Bowl in 2000.
Koetter came to ASU from Boise State, where he went 26-10 from 1998-2000 and earned a reputation as an offensive wizard.
Koetter went 4-7 in his first season at ASU, finishing ninth in the Pac-10. But he seemed to have turned the program around in 2002, posting an 8-4 record and earning a Holiday Bowl berth with a third-place conference finish.
But a pattern had begun. ASU won five games in 2003, nine in 2004 and seven in 2005. That inconsistency, coupled with Koetter's 2-19 record against ranked teams, led to mounting criticism among Sun Devils fans.
This season brought high expectations, with ASU ranked 24th in the AP preseason Top 25. But Koetter came under intense scrutiny at the end of fall camp when he anointed senior Sam Keller his starting quarterback, then changed his mind and gave the job to sophomore Rudy Carpenter less than two days later.
Keller soon transferred to Nebraska, where he is sitting out this season under NCAA rules.
The episode seemed to become a footnote as the Sun Devils won their first three games against Northern Arizona, Nevada and Colorado. But it loomed large when the offense struggled and the Sun Devils opened Pac-10 play with losses to California, Oregon and Southern California.
Koetter's offense is typically among the most productive in the nation. But Carpenter, who led the nation in passing efficiency a year ago, struggled behind an injury-riddled line and had little help from an inexperienced receiving corps.
The losses to Cal and USC left Koetter 0-12 against Pac-10 teams in California. He went 21-28 in the Pac-10.
Koetter could not immediately be reached for comment. A news release issued by the athletic department said Koetter would issue a statement Sunday night.
Koetter discussed the speculation about his future after the Arizona victory Saturday.
"It's been my privilege to be the head coach at Arizona State for the last six seasons, and if this is the end for me, it's a great way to go out," said Koetter, who beat the Wildcats for the fourth time in six seasons.
"I don't make the decision on that," Koetter said. "I've got the utmost respect for Lisa Love, utmost respect for president [Michael] Crow. They're the decision-makers on that. They have to do what they think is best for Arizona State."
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
Should of happened two years ago. Very intersting opening should be a lot of speculation on who lands this job
Report: Koetter out as Sun Devils coach after 6 yearsAssociated Press
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State fired coach Dirk Koetter, who led his team to a bowl the last three seasons but rarely beat the best in the Pac-10.
Athletic director Lisa Love was expected make the announcement Sunday after the team's annual awards banquet Sunday night in Scottsdale, a source close to the program said. The source asked not to be identified because the announcement was pending.
Koetter went 40-33 in six seasons at ASU. There was no word on whether Koetter would coach the team in a bowl game.
The Sun Devils completed a 7-5 regular season with a 28-14 victory over rival Arizona in Tucson on Saturday, clinching their third consecutive postseason berth. He went 4-2 against the Wildcats.
The firing was first reported by the East Valley Tribune on its Web site.
Koetter's dismissal comes less than a year after Love gave him a contract extension through the 2009 season. The deal called for Koetter to be paid $2.85 million from 2007 to 2009.
It's the second time in seven years the school has fired a coach with a winning overall record after he earned a bowl berth. Koetter succeeded Bruce Snyder, who went 58-47 in nine seasons and was dismissed despite getting to the Aloha Bowl in 2000.
Koetter came to ASU from Boise State, where he went 26-10 from 1998-2000 and earned a reputation as an offensive wizard.
Koetter went 4-7 in his first season at ASU, finishing ninth in the Pac-10. But he seemed to have turned the program around in 2002, posting an 8-4 record and earning a Holiday Bowl berth with a third-place conference finish.
But a pattern had begun. ASU won five games in 2003, nine in 2004 and seven in 2005. That inconsistency, coupled with Koetter's 2-19 record against ranked teams, led to mounting criticism among Sun Devils fans.
This season brought high expectations, with ASU ranked 24th in the AP preseason Top 25. But Koetter came under intense scrutiny at the end of fall camp when he anointed senior Sam Keller his starting quarterback, then changed his mind and gave the job to sophomore Rudy Carpenter less than two days later.
Keller soon transferred to Nebraska, where he is sitting out this season under NCAA rules.
The episode seemed to become a footnote as the Sun Devils won their first three games against Northern Arizona, Nevada and Colorado. But it loomed large when the offense struggled and the Sun Devils opened Pac-10 play with losses to California, Oregon and Southern California.
Koetter's offense is typically among the most productive in the nation. But Carpenter, who led the nation in passing efficiency a year ago, struggled behind an injury-riddled line and had little help from an inexperienced receiving corps.
The losses to Cal and USC left Koetter 0-12 against Pac-10 teams in California. He went 21-28 in the Pac-10.
Koetter could not immediately be reached for comment. A news release issued by the athletic department said Koetter would issue a statement Sunday night.
Koetter discussed the speculation about his future after the Arizona victory Saturday.
"It's been my privilege to be the head coach at Arizona State for the last six seasons, and if this is the end for me, it's a great way to go out," said Koetter, who beat the Wildcats for the fourth time in six seasons.
"I don't make the decision on that," Koetter said. "I've got the utmost respect for Lisa Love, utmost respect for president [Michael] Crow. They're the decision-makers on that. They have to do what they think is best for Arizona State."
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
Should of happened two years ago. Very intersting opening should be a lot of speculation on who lands this job
