Story co-written by Kayla Smith
WCU Director of Athletics, Alex Gary, announced that football coach, Mark Speir, will not return as Head Coach.
“After a thorough evaluation of the program, I feel that it is time we move in a different direction,” said Gary in an article for Catamount Sports. “We are grateful for Coach Speir’s nine years of dedicated service and efforts on behalf of the Catamount football program.”
Starting off as an assistant coach for WCU football in the mid 1990’s and hired in December of 2011 as head coach, Speir has been a key factor in the revitalization of Western Carolina’s football program. Speir has collected three 7-win seasons, was an Eddie Robinson National FCS Coach of the Year finalist in 2014, and helped guide multiple players to NFL rosters, including Keion Crosson, Detrez Newsome and most recently John Brannon.
In February of 2019, the Western Carolina board of trustees and former Athletic Director, Randy Eaton, approved Speir for a contract extension through the summer of 2025.
WCU Athletics will begin the search for the 14th head coach in school history immediately. Gary hopes to fill the role by the 2021-2022 season.
