After giving up more than 100 points the last two games of the season, East Carolina has made a move to shake up its coaching staff.
In a press release, head coach Ruffin McNeill (pictured) announced that the contract of defensive coordinator Brian Mitchell “will not be renewed.” In other words, ECU has fired its coordinator.
“There’s never a good time to make a coaching change, especially one that involves a friend and colleague who I respect professionally,” McNeill said in a statement. “However, I have the responsibility and commitment to maintain the best interest for this program and East Carolina University.”
Mitchell, who also served as the Pirates’ secondary coach, had spent the last three seasons as ECU’s coordinator.
The regular-season finale and bowl game served as a microcosm for a woeful season-long performance. The Pirates finished 90th in the country in scoring defense, giving up an average of 31.6 points per game. Five times this season, ECU surrendered more than 40 points in a single game.