Niumatalolo: Navy fired me right after loss to Army
ANNAPOLIS, Md.– Previous Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo informed ESPN on Monday he was sitting by himself at his locker following the Midshipmen’s 20-17 double-overtime loss to rival Army in Philadelphia on Saturday when athletic director Chet Gladchuk strolled in and fired him.
“First off, we simply got started the gut,” Niumatalolo stated. “I was a bit numb previous to him stating that, so most of it I couldn’t comprehend. I’m just like, ‘Chet, why do not you take some time to relax.’ He stated, ‘Well, it’s been developing.'”
The 2 shared significantly various point of views on a training modification at a program that isn’t trying to reach the College Football Playoff but each year captures the nation’s attention with the pageantry and tradition of the Army-Navy game. Niumatalolo, the winningest coach in program history at 109-83, made a track record for finishing his players, his sincere approach and avoiding NCAA violations, and while Gladchuk praised him for the enduring effect he has had on the Midshipmen, he said the objectives are winning the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy and earning bowl eligibility.
“That’s been the continuous bar we strive for, is to achieve those two goals, which I believe are really sensible, really affordable and have corresponded for 20 years and for that reason this does not come as any surprise,” Gladchuk said. “It’s just an expectation that unfortunately fell short.”
Gladchuk said “without any question of a doubt” the expectations were communicated to Niumatalolo prior to the season.
“I spoke straight to his representatives, who asked me exactly that question,” Gladchuk said. “I conveyed it to them and I conveyed it for 20 years to the head coach … there’s no confusion with regard to what the expectations are. And I believe they’re reasonable, they’re sensible, they’re obtainable. They’re anticipated. They’re resourced. I can’t make it any clearer.”
2 Associated
The Midshipmen ended up the season with four or fewer wins three years in a row and are 2-5 in the past 7 matches with Army and 2-5 against Air Force in the very same period. While the three service academies– Army, Navy and Air Force– deal with similar challenges, Niumatalolo stated the failure for even a handful of his players to receive an additional year of eligibility– specifically for season-ending injuries and the COVID-ravaged 2020 season– made it especially tough.
“The other two get it,” he said. “All those others who got their extra year from COVID, I’m not complaining about it– people deserve it. Why weren’t we paid for that opportunity? Particularly if the other two were able to do some stuff that way. We remained in an unique pandemic.”
Niumatalolo stated Navy doesn’t redshirt, so he had freshmen and sophomores facing players from the other academies with a sixth year of eligibility from 2020. He stated he asked Gladchuk and the Navy superintendent if any players could be granted an extra year of eligibility, however was denied since the government needs the Midshipmen to graduate in 4 years.
“We have to make this a level playing field,” he stated. “If we had what they had, if I had the ability to extend several men every year … we’re sharing our indoor facility with gymnastics. Who else in the country is sharing their indoor facility with gymnastics? There’s times we’re out there in the freezing rain. I’m like, where else is any person else practicing like this?”
Niumatalolo likewise stated the other academies are done with classes at midday, which he said is a considerable advantage since the football program can feed the players twice and have conferences. He stated Navy’s classes end at 3:20 p.m. and players are running to practice. He asked for the schedule to alter, but was informed that likewise could not happen. Gladchuk stated a lot of Navy’s assistance originates from the secretary of the Navy and yielded the Midshipmen “have to handle variables that in most cases are not similar.”
“We’ve got to accept that,” he said. “We need to eliminate the diversions and play by the guidelines we’re dealt and prosper doing simply that. What was Air Force, 9-3? They’re playing by the same rules too.”
With a skilled team that consists of 22 returning starters to complete against a significantly different American Athletic Conference with the pending departures of Cincinnati, Houston and UCF to the Huge 12, Niumatalolo stated he asked to finish the staying year on his contract.
“And if we lose next year,” he stated, “do not fret about firing me. I’ll resign. You don’t need to pay me a cent. I’m not trying to find a raise, I’m not looking for anything. I just want to finish my contract. We’re finally coming out of the pandemic. I ‘d be lying if I stated I wasn’t disappointed. I thought we represented something various.”
Gladchuk said the returning experience and conference realignment was all “part of the thought process,” however it was more than that.
“This didn’t come down to a fumble, or perhaps a lost game on Saturday,” Gladchuk said. “These objectives and expectations have been set for several years. … I think of our corporate relationships. I think of our television direct exposures. I think about our obligation to the conference, our alumni.”
Niumatalolo said he isn’t bitter, however stated he felt he had to safeguard himself and discuss his record in recent years against the academies.
“I’m a rival,” he stated. “It’s tough for me to think that we got the ball on the 6-inch line, and that’s my last game. That’s tough to fathom. If we win, he’s not shooting me. How do you fire a man after you win the Army-Navy game? That’s not going to occur.”