As expected, Glenn won't be back

Richard Anderson photo
Joe Glenn was let go as University of Wyoming head football coach on Sunday after six years at the helm.

By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org

University of Wyoming Athletics Director Tom Burman announced Sunday that head football coach Joe Glenn will not return as coach of the Cowboys. Glenn served in his current position for the past six seasons (2003-08).

“We felt that after six seasons under Coach Glenn, the Wyoming football program was not making the kind of progress we had hoped for,” said Burman in a release a day after the Cowboys fell to Colorado State, 31-20. “We had hoped that after six seasons, we would be competing for a conference championship. That has not happened.

“I want to thank Coach Glenn for the way in which he has represented our athletics department and our university over the past six years. There is no finer man, no finer person than Joe Glenn. He has been an outstanding ambassador for Cowboy and Cowgirl athletics, the University of Wyoming and the state of Wyoming. We will always be grateful to him for his service.”

Glenn’s high points while at Wyoming included wins over Ole Miss (2004 and 2005), Virginia (2007) and Tennessee (2008). His most memorable win at UW came in the 2004 Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl, when he led the Cowboys to a 24-21 upset victory over UCLA.

“I want to thank the University of Wyoming for giving us the opportunity to coach here the past six years,” said Glenn. “We have made many friends both on and off the field. I also want to thank our football staff, their families and our players for all their hard work and loyalty. It’s been a privilege to be a part of this great game with all of them.”

Wyoming president Tom Buchanan said the primary mission of the University of Wyoming is to provide outstanding undergraduate and graduate education. He also said that UW is a nationally recognized research university and has an important responsibility to provide service in a variety of ways to Wyoming’s citizens.

But, Buchanan said that like a vast majority of their peer universities, they also have an NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics program, led by Burman.

“UW has decided to make a change in the leadership of the football program for a host of very sound reasons. AD Burman and I have discussed at length the issues surrounding this decision, and I fully support his decision,” Buchanan said. “As is the case with any coaching change, there will be debate about the wisdom of the decision, and nothing I say will change that.”

Buchanan, however, said he has nothing but respect for Glenn and his time at Wyoming.

“First, over the past six years, there has been no better ambassador for the University of Wyoming than Joe Glenn,” Buchanan said. “He has been a regular visitor to Wyoming’s public schools; he has consistently devoted his time and energy to charitable causes; he has been a tremendous citizen of the university’s campus participating in a host of events unrelated to athletics; and he has embraced the State of Wyoming with enthusiasm. I have made it clear that there is a place for him at the University of Wyoming if he so desires - he is a valuable asset to the university and the state.

“Second, Joe has managed UW’s football program in a way that ensured that our student-athletes were academically successful. The university and our fans can be proud of the behavior of our student-athletes, both on and off the field. I can assure you that I will expect the next Wyoming head football coach to bring the same level of commitment and success to academics that Joe Glenn demanded.

“Finally, we will work quickly to name a new coach to ensure that our program can continue with as little interruption as possible. I urge our fans to join me in continuing to support UW’s intercollegiate athletics, and to recognize the wonderful contribution that Joe has made to UW and Wyoming during the past six years.”

The Cowboys finished the 2008 the season with an overall record of 4-8 and a 1-7 record in the Mountain West Conference.

Glenn’s best season was the 2004 campaign, when Wyoming posted a 7-5 overall mark on its way to the Las Vegas Bowl win. Glenn’s Cowboys earned bowl eligible status one other season, in 2006 with a 6-6 mark, but were not invited to a bowl game that season. His best conference record in the past six seasons was a 5-3 mark in 2006, placing Wyoming third in the Mountain West that season.

Glenn’s overall record as coach of the Cowboys is 30-41 (.423), and his record against Mountain West Conference opponents stands at 15-31 (.326).

Glenn has been honored numerous times by his peers. His most recent honor came in 2002 as head coach at Montana when he was selected Big Sky Conference Co-Coach of the Year by his fellow Big Sky coaches. It marked the third consecutive season that Glenn won or shared that honor. He was also named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division I-AA Region 5 Coach of the Year in 2002, marking the second consecutive season he earned that honor. In 2000, Glenn was presented the Eddie Robinson Award by The Sports Network as the Division I-AA National Coach of the Year. He also won AFCA Division II National Coach of the Year honors in both 1996 and ‘97. All total, he has been named National Coach of the Year three times, AFCA Regional Coach of the Year on five occasions and conference coach of the year five different seasons. In the spring of 2000, The Denver Post named him one of Colorado’s “Greatest Coaches of the 1900’s.”

His current contract was scheduled to run through the 2010 season. Under the terms of his contract, the University of Wyoming will pay him $316,000 for the remaining two years of his contract.

Burman said that a national search for Glenn’s successor would begin immediately.

“Wyoming football has a tremendous tradition,” said Burman. “It has been highly successful under names like (Bowden) Wyatt, (Bob) Devaney, (Lloyd) Eaton, (Paul) Roach and (Joe) Tiller. We strongly believe we have the potential to return to the success our fans enjoyed under these great coaches.”

Burman believes that a search can be completed in a timely manner, and he has engaged the services of Neinas Sports (www.neinassports.com) to assist in the search process. The contract with Neinas Sports is for $35,000, plus expenses.

“We recognize the magnitude of making a great hire,” said Burman. “We are prepared to attract a head coach who will make Wyoming football a power in the Mountain West Conference.”

Glenn met with his coaching staff and his team early Sunday afternoon. Burman is expected to meet with the team on Monday.