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McBride Relieved Of His Post As Head Utah Football Coach
11/25/2002 12:00 AM | Football
Nov. 25, 2002
SALT LAKE CITY -
University of Utah Director of Athletics Dr. Chris Hill relieved Ron McBride of his duties as head football coach in a meeting today.
"We are disappointed in how we have fared in league play over the last three seasons," said Hill about his decision to fire his coach since 1990. The Utes are 10-11 in the Mountain West Conference and 17-17 overall since 2000.
"Our expectations, given our facilities and support system here at Utah, are for us to win our share of conference championships and be ranked with some regularity in the top 25 at the end of the season. While we appreciate Ron's efforts-and he has certainly done some great things here-I feel like our football program has stagnated and it is time to look to someone else to take us where we want to be."
U. President Dr. Bernie Machen supports the decision, saying, "The University of Utah has enjoyed a wonderful relationship with Ron McBride and his family. We appreciate all he has done but need to take steps to move the program forward."
Under McBride, who compiled an 88-63 overall record in 13 years at Utah, the Utes tied for two conference championships. Utah finished in a four-way tie for first in 1995 as a member of the Western Athletic Conference and was the 1999 MWC tri-champion. He never won an outright conference title or represented the conference in a championship bowl.
The 63-year-old South Gate, Calif., native led Utah to six bowl games and produced a 3-3 bowl record. He had nine winning seasons, his best in 1994, when Utah won a school record 10 games, beat Arizona in the Freedom Bowl and finished the season ranked in the top 10.
McBride was dismissed two days after his 2002 Utes finished with a 5-6 overall and 3-4 MWC record.
Hill confirmed that a national search for a new coach will begin immediately. "There will be a lot of very highly qualified candidates interested in this position," he says. "A new coach will come in knowing he has the facilities and support system to succeed. I would like to have someone in place as soon as possible, but my first priority is to do a thorough search and get the right person for the job."
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