Jay Jacobs (athletic director)
Jay Jacobs | |
|---|---|
| Education | B.A., Auburn University, M.B.A., Auburn University |
| Occupation | Director of Athletics |
| Employer | Southeastern Conference |
Jay Jacobs is the current director of athletics for the Auburn Tigers athletic department. He was named Auburn's 14th Director of Athletics on December 22, 2004, after working in almost every area of the Auburn athletic department for the previous 20 years.
2008 football coaching change
In December 2008, Jacobs came under considerable criticism[1][2][3] for the resignation of head football coach Tommy Tuberville and subsequent hiring of former Iowa State football coach, Gene Chizik.[4] The public perception of the 2008 coaching search was so negative [5] that it created a groundswell of opposition to Jacobs by many Auburn fans, students and alumni.[6][7] However, Jacobs was later vindicated when Chizik, in his second year, won the 2010 BCS National Championship Game.[8]
2010 basketball coaching change
In March 2010, Jacobs dismissed former Auburn men's basketball coach Jeff Lebo. Lebo had been at Auburn for six years, had a losing record, and his teams had failed to make the NCAA Tournament in any season. Jacobs replaced him with Tony Barbee.
2014 basketball coaching change
Jacobs fired Barbee following the 2014 season, replacing him with former Tennessee head coach Bruce Pearl, who was coming off a show-cause suspension. The hire reinvigorated a moribund Auburn program; although the team finished with a losing record in 2014-15, the Tigers' run in the SEC Tournament that year instilled a sense of hope around the program.
References
- ^ "Auburn University students protest treatment of Tommy Tuberville - ESPN". ESPN.com.
- ^ http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-fbc-auburn-tubervillebd,0,4640983.story[dead link]
- ^ http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/ncaa/12/09/auburn.protest.ap/index.html[dead link]
- ^ "Local News - Columbus Ledger Enquirer". ledger-enquirer.com.
- ^ "Mark Schlabach: Auburn Tigers downgrade in hiring Gene Chizik - ESPN". ESPN.com.
- ^ http://www.oanow.com/oan/news/local/article/student_reaction_to_chizik_mostly_negative/51007/[dead link]
- ^ "Charles Barkley outraged by Auburn Tigers' hiring of Gene Chizik - ESPN". ESPN.com.
- ^ "Auburn fires Gene Chizik after 3-9 season". Yahoo News. 25 November 2012.