Following a tension-filled week that saw players walk out of an administrative meeting and skip a Wednesday football practice, Grambling has dismissed interim head coach George Ragsdale. Ragsdale was named the interim head coach last month following the firing of head coach Doug Williams. The university named defensive coordinator Dennis Winston the interim head coach of the month and here’s hoping the program can get through the rest of the season without any more changes during the season.
Winston is a former NFL player, who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints and he played college football for Arkansas. He previously was an assistant coach for former Grambling coach Eddie Robinson. Grambling athletics director Aaron James named Winston the team’s latest interim head coach due to his ability to calm things down.
Given the information coming out this week about the level of player satisfaction with the university, Winston is stepping in to a real tough spot. The first task will be to connect with his players, which hopefully goes smoothly as Grambling attempts to turn things around as a program not used to this level of play exhibited over the past season and a half.
Ultimately though it is up to the powers that be at Grambling to make sure the players in their football program have their support. That appears to be lacking given the information previously reported.
UPDATE (10:17 p.m.): USA Today reports Grambling football players skipped practice on Thursday as well.
Image via Grambling Athletics.