University of Memphis Athletic Director R.C. Johnson announced Monday he had fired head football coach Rip Scherer and begun a search to replace him.
"On Sunday morning," Johnson said, "I met with Coach Scherer and relieved him of his duties as head football coach. I want to say that Coach Scherer is one of the classiest individuals I have ever had the opportunity to work with and that made the decision even more difficult. During our meeting, Coach Scherer asked if I could delay this announcement until today so that he could have the opportunity to meet with his staff and his club. I agreed to do that."
Johnson told members of the media The University would "buy out" the remaining two and a half years of Scherer's contract, which pays him about $234,000 annually, with private funds pledged by Tiger boosters.
"The total [of the buyout] with benefits is about $1.1 million," Johnson said. "The staff, from now until the end of June, is about $480,000. Rip's total package is about $485,000. Then there's the employee benefits at about $190,000."
Scherer, who was hired by Johnson from James Madison University in 1995 before being awarded a two-year contract extension last year, had not had a winning season in six years as head coach of Memphis and ends his tenure with an overall record of 22-44.
"[Scherer] and his staff have done everything we have asked of them except win," Johnson said. "They have run a first-class operation with no hint of impropriety, but the bottom line in this business is winning games. Therefore, I have decided we need a change in direction for the program."
"The search for a new football coach will begin immediately," he added. "There is an immediacy in putting a new coach in place as soon as possible, due to his need to hire a staff and get started with recruiting."
Johnson would not reveal his list of potential candidates for the position, but said it consisted of "roughly half a dozen to a dozen" names. He added, though, that the position would be open to anyone, including current assistant coaches.
As for Tiger players, disappointment seemed to be the prevailing mood.
Tiger quarterback Scott Scherer said his father met with the team to discuss the situation early Monday.
"He basically told us he wouldn't be coaching anymore," Scott said. "It's unfortunate because this program is headed in the right direction."
Senior receiver Al Sermon said Coach Scherer had outlined a great season for the team.
"We had a lot of goals set at the beginning of the season," Sermon said. "One was a winning season and getting to a bowl game. His job [being on the line] was never a factor in the way we played football this year."
After starting this season 4-2 and raising hopes of Memphis's first bowl bid in 29 years, the Tigers dropped their final five games, including a 37-14 loss at Tulane Saturday, to finish the season 4-7. Scherer's best season at Memphis was in 1999, when he led the Tigers to a 5-6 record.
"The final decision was really based on a lack of wins over the six-year period," Johnson said. "There was nothing else."
