Athletic Director, Carlton Cooper, made the decision Monday morning to relieve Head Football Coach, Scotty Conley of his duties effective immediately.
“Coach Scotty Conley has served with integrity, professionalism and commitment. He has made many important contributions to the Lions football program and we are grateful for his efforts,” Dr. Dan Jones, president of Texas A&M University said.
Conley, who came to Texas A&M University-Commerce in 2004 had not produced a winning season and came closest to that this year with a 5-5 finish. He says that although he is obviously upset about the circumstances, that he doesn’t have any hard feelings toward the University.
“I’m disappointed I didn’t get done what needed to get done, but there are a lot of good people here and I wish them the best,” Conley said.
This news came as a surprise to the Athletic Council as they did not know about it until Tuesday morning, according to Randy McBroom, chairperson of the Athletic Council.
There seemed to be no warning to the five-year head coach either. He said that he was caught off guard by the decision and that he didn’t see it coming.
Alongside Cooper, Jones made the decision to end Conley’s era as head coach in order to jump-start the football program back into national prominence.
“We look forward to recruiting a head football coach through a national search who will help us reach this goal, “Jones said.
Cooper doesn’t feel like finding a replacement for the position should be a difficult thing to do. He referred to the University as an attractive one. The Athletic Department has begun motions to create a search committee for the position. The names of those on the committee will be released at a later date.
“We are looking to move in a new direction,” Cooper said. “We need to win more constantly.”
This direction involves the asking of Gene Stallings to help advise in whom they should choose to be Conley’s successor. Stallings was the head football coach at Texas A&M University at College Station, as well as the University of Alabama.
Stallings also was head coach for two NFL teams and served as assistant coach for the Dallas Cowboys under Tom Landry for 14 years.
Cooper and Stallings have had an ongoing personal relationship and this led him to seek his advice on what kind of head football coach would be best for the University.
“We are very fortunate to have someone who has done the things and accomplished what he has accomplished,” Cooper said. “To have that person to lean on and kind of follow in the career or business arena that he has been in.”
Stallings was unavailable for comment at the time of press.
Cooper and his staff noted that they at this time do not have anyone in mind who they would call the most likely to take the position of Head Football Coach. However, there have been some names brought to their attention by alumni. Those names have not yet been released.
For the time being Coach Jamie Critchlow has been appointed as the Interim Head Football Coach until a new head coach has been selected.
As for the availability of the job, Cooper says that the position is still open and they are taking applications for it. Cooper also said that the assistant coaches “are welcome to apply for this job just like anyone else.”
Cooper also added that the protest from three weeks ago and the failing of the sports referendum had nothing to do with the decision to relieve Conley of his duties.