In an update to this ongoing story, the Mark Mangino era is indeed officially over at Kansas, the school announced in a statement.
Mangino’s departure as the Jayhawks’ head coach is officially being labeled as a resignation and came at the tail end of an internal investigation into his alleged treatment of football players. The Wichita Eagle reported earlier tonight that the school and Mangino had reached an agreement on a settlement.
According to the school’s statement, that internal review has been completed, but the details of that probe will not be released — likely as part of the agreement reached by Mangino and the university.
“We appreciate the eight years that Mark has given to rebuilding our football program,” Kansas Athletics Director Lew Perkins said in a statement. “He and I have reached a mutually satisfactory agreement that reflects the appreciation we have for his efforts on behalf of Kansas Football.
“As you know we have recently completed an internal review of the football program. I have been instructed by legal counsel that we cannot release any documents related to this investigation, nor any details regarding our settlement agreement. The investigation and settlement agreement will remain part of Mark’s personnel records.”
Mangino compiled a 50-48 record during his eight years at Kansas, including the first back-to-back bowl wins in school history the past two seasons. He was also named the 2007 coach of the year by multiple organizations and outlets following his Jayhawks’ 12-1 season that culminated in an Orange Bowl win.
That’s all in the past now, however, and going forward there will be a two-pronged focus as the rumored parting of ways has finally occurred.
One, just where will Mangino land next, if anywhere? The only “major” openings are at Louisville and Notre Dame, and the former seemingly has their eyes set on Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong while the latter would likely have no interest given the “baggage” that would come with such a hire.
Either way, the way Mangino’s tenure ended would likely make him a tough sell to any program in the immediate future.
And, as to the second prong, to whom will the Jayhawks turn to continue on with a formerly moribund program that Mangino helped raise from the scrap heap and turn into a Big 12 North contender?
One name that has been thrown around as a potential replacement for Mangino is UConn’s Randy Edsall. Another? Buffalo head coach Turner Gill. Gill in particular would seem to be an attractive options given his ties to the region as a former Nebraska quarterback and assistant coach, and how he’s turned around the Bulls football program.
Regardless of who takes over for Mangino, there’s no doubt that the now-former coach left the program in a whole helluva lot better shape than the one he inherited back in 2002.
Any truth to the rumor that Mizzou’s Gary Pinkel is talking to ND?
@ Observer1: Have not heard that. Source?
I just heard from a reliable source that Mike Shanahan was seen at Lawrence International Airport, getting into a red and blue helicopter that appeared to head for Mt Oread.
Or maybe I made that up and we will hire some nobody, and the rest of us will have to go back to watching basketball and pretending like we care about it.
No good source. Over heard folks in Columbia at lunch. He was extended last year. Trying to find out if it has legs.
Who would want to coach at KU now, knowing that Mangino took them from nothing to being respectable, which is the most anyone could have hoped for at a basketball school, and Perkins ran him out as soon as his team had an off year. And I hope Perkins conducts a full review of all candidates to ensure the KU faithful that the new coach has never been mean to a player, never grabbed a kid by the jersey, and certainly never poked a player on the chest. Oh and if a kid has had a blister on that coach’s watch, rule him out. Yes, that rules out all of the good candidates. That gill guy sounds about right-he’s such a hot coach that no one better than buffalo has offered him a job, and he was last year’s media darling. Oh, I forgot about one more qualification,
Its a sad day when a good coach gets forced out. I feel confident that he is not the monstrous coach that some have made him out to be. Just look at high charater players like Stuckey and Meier that support him. I also look at a player like Dez Briscoe that needs a coach to ride him to make him a better player. Hopefully Lew doesn’t screw this up!!!!!!!!!
[...] a poke in the chest of a player to undermine the coach and launch an investigation that ultimately led to his demise as Kansas’ [...]
[...] an aside: karma can be a very nasty and vindictive vixen. When your former AD is responsible for firing a head coach like Mark Mangino that deserved a raise and not a dismissal, you reap what you sow. And, [...]
[...] officially resigned as Kansas’ coach in December of 2009 amidst an internal investigation into his alleged mistreatment of football [...]
[...] officially resigned as Kansas’ coach in December of 2009 amidst an internal investigation into his alleged mistreatment of football [...]