Wednesday, July 14, 2010 Sources: Vandy coach plans to resign ________________________________
By Chris Low ESPN.com Vanderbilt's Bobby Johnson has told school officials that he plans to step down as football coach, multiple sources said Wednesday. A news conference has been scheduled for 2 p.m. ET at Vanderbilt, where Johnson is expected to announce the reason for his resignation. Johnson's impending resignation was also reported by Nashville's 104.5 FM The Zone on Wednesday morning. Johnson, who turned 60 earlier this year, is tied for the fourth most wins in the history of the program, although the Commodores are coming off their first winless season in the SEC since Johnson's first season at Vanderbilt in 2002. The Commodores had experienced a resurgence under Johnson and won their first bowl game in 53 years during the 2008 season, when they defeated Boston College in the Music City Bowl. Johnson was named SEC Coach of the Year that season. Johnson's career record at Vanderbilt is 29-66. Bruce Fowler, who was Johnson's assistant head coach for defense, and Robbie Caldwell, Johnson's assistant head coach and offensive line coach, are seen as possible interim replacements. Johnson was hired as Vanderbilt's coach in 2001, after leading Furman University to the Football Championship Subdivision (Division I-AA) national championship game. In 2008, Johnson produced one of the sport's greatest turnarounds, leading the Commodores to a 5-0 start and a national ranking. Vanderbilt upset then-No. 24 South Carolina 24-17 and defeated No. 14 Auburn 14-13, both at home, to climb as high as No. 13 in the national polls. The Commodores lost six of their last seven regular-season games, before beating Boston College 16-14 in the Gaylord Music City Bowl in Nashville -- the second bowl victory in school history. Two of Johnson's former SEC coaching colleagues said Johnson's teams at Vanderbilt made the most of their ability. "They were very disciplined and played to their strengths,' said Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen, a former offensive coordinator at Florida: "They played hard. He got the most out of his players." Current Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt, who previously coached at Arkansas, said Johnson is "an excellent coach who did an awesome job with less." Chris Low is a college football writer for ESPN.com. ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach ESPN's Joe Schad contributed to this report. ________________________________ From: "oli...@bobparks.com" <oli...@bobparks.com> To: Gator Talk <gatortalk@googlegroups.com> Sent: Wed, July 14, 2010 1:02:54 PM Subject: [gatortalk] Vandy Just heard Bobby Johnson resigned. Anyone else hear this? Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us
