Bonesville: The Authoritative Independent Voice of East Carolina

News & Features from ECU, the AAC and Beyond

  • Home
  • News & Features
  • Recruiting
  • Photos
  • Audio
  • Roundup
  • Comments
  • Legacy Archives
  • • ECU 2021 BASEBALL SCHEDULE
  • • ECU 2021 BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
  • • ECU 2021 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

From the Anchor Desk
ECU leaders under the gun to right the ship

March 13, 2018 By Brian Bailey 2 Comments

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

The Jeff Compher buyout ends one of the most tumultuous times in East Carolina’s athletics history.

The buyout had been rumored for weeks. I even had a chance to ask the soon-to-be former Pirate AD about the situation a couple of weeks ago. Compher said there wasn’t anything to it.

It’s been my experience that if there is enough smoke, there is a fire somewhere. So I took his answer with the proverbial grain of salt.

After all, Steve Logan once told me that he had no idea that his defensive coordinator, Larry Coyer, had been named as the defensive line coach with the New York Jets. The Jets had already announced it, but Logan played dumb. I was young and naïve back then. I’m old and probably still a bit naïve now.

I try to see the best in people. It’s worked quite well for me in my 30-plus year career. This situation, though, had soured. Many in the Pirate Nation were holding back their support of the Pirates and the athletic program was in a downward spiral.

The Chancellor and the Board of Trustees are now the ones under fire. Some are mad about the buyout. Others are concerned about the new hire.

Now the program has a chance to bounce back. Compher’s departure opens the door for a new person to come in and right the Pirate ship.

Former ECU athletic director Dave Hart, a highly regarded figure in collegiate athletic circles, is expected to have input in ECU’s search for a new AD. (Photo: utsports.com)

I believe East Carolina should go after someone with “Pirate ties.” I think the lack of those ties hurt Compher during his tenure at ECU.

I expect ECU to call on former Pirate AD Dave Hart in the near future. Hart currently heads up Athletics Legacy Partners, a consulting firm that identifies and develops talent to lead college athletics departments. Hart is expected to play some type of role going forward.

The first person I thought of as a full time replacement for Compher was UNC-Wilmington AD Jimmy Bass. Bass had to make some tough decisions with the Seahawks early on, but has flourished in his seven-plus years on the job at UNCW.

Scott Wetherbee would certainly be a nice hire. Wetherbee is currently the AD at Eastern Michigan. Wetherbee was a Pirate for ten years and has also made stops at Mississippi State, San Diego State and Fresno State.

Jeff Barber was an assistant AD at ECU in the late 80’s and early 90’s. He led the Liberty program for a decade before he suddenly resigned a year and a half ago.

Charles Bloom is a former SID at East Carolina and is now an Associate AD at South Carolina. Bloome has a great resume going back to the BCS and the SEC.

Nick Floyd left ECU to take the AD job at Louisiana-Monroe. Floyd is a class guy and could certainly help with the current budget situation.

There are certainly many other candidates. Hopefully, the powers that be will move smartly but swiftly on the hire.

An expensive chapter in ECU’s athletic history is now in the past. Compher’s employment relationship with ECU will formally end on May 1.

Alice Morse Earle once said, “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why it is called the present.”

Here’s hoping the Pirate’s “present” can come in here and turn this thing around.

BB

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Filed Under: News & Features

Comments

  1. Hal says

    March 13, 2018 at 10:21 am

    Let’s hope we get an AD in place before hiring another coach. Other wise it will look like a a few well healed supporters will want to hire the coach without the complication of having to consult the Director of Athletics, which is probably how we got to where we are. Go Pirates!

    Reply
    • The Kidd says

      March 13, 2018 at 11:45 am

      I agree. Time is of the essence. Basketball coaching carousel for folks we can afford is going on right now. Maybe the decision has already been made to go with Perry? Just waiting for the new AD to announce it?

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent News & Features

Baseball News
Pirates take series

Baseball News
ECU dealt first defeat

Baseball News
ECU prevails over Eagles in first road game

VIEW FROM THE EAST
Pirates prep for challenging start in 2021

Baseball News
Pirates use long ball to down Duke

Football Recruiting Report
Banner recruits keep American on the rise

Basketball News
Postponements continue to mount in AAC hoops

Baseball News
Pirates complete sweep

Baseball News
Norby paces Pirates to series win

Baseball News
Pirates edge Rams, 3-2, in 10 innings

More News & Features

ECU Schedules

  • ECU 2021 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2020-21 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2021 Baseball Schedule

ECU Recruiting

  • Football Recruiting Class of 2021
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2020
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2019
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2018
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2017
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2021-22
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2020-21
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2019-20
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2018-19
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2017-18
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2016-17
Tweets by bonesville

Past Football Schedules

  • ECU 2020 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2019 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2018 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2017 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2016 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2015 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2014 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2013 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2012 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2011 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2010 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2009 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2008 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2007 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2006 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2005 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2004 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2003 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2002 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2001 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2000 Football Schedule
  • Historical Schedules

Past Basketball Schedules

  • ECU 2019-20 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2018-19 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2017-18 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2016-17 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2000-2015 Basketball Archives

Past Baseball Schedules

  • ECU 2020 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2019 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2018 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2017 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2016 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2015 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2001-2014 Baseball Archives

Recruiting Class Profiles

Football Recruiting Report
Banner recruits keep American on the rise

ECU Recruiting Evaluation, Part 2
Defensive report card: Pirates lure experience

ECU Recruiting Evaluation, Part 1
Offensive report card: Skill positions reinforced

ECU Football Recruiting - Early Evaluation
Pirates fortify secondary

Football Recruiting
Pirates land lineman with ‘nasty attitude’

Football Recruiting
Former TCU linebacker sets new path at ECU

Football Recruiting
Florida produces another quarterback gem for ECU

Football Recruiting
Legacy of ECU’s receivers helped sell Keigley

Football Recruiting
Pirates reaping dividends from Tri-City focus

Football Recruiting
Close relationship with ECU staff swayed Temple

Football Recruiting
Timely recruiting helped Pirates land Wright

Football Recruiting
COVID-19 opens door to FBS for Jason Shuford

Football Recruiting
ECU secondary secures Bama grad transfer Knott

Football Recruiting
ECU wins battle for coveted safety Clyatt

Football Recruiting
Grad transfer Chase rekindles ties with ECU

Recruiting Evaluation: Class of 2020 Defense
Defensive class caps off sterling recruiting effort

Recruiting Evaluation: Class of 2020 Offense
Gifted QBs, RBs headline offensive signees

Football Recruiting
Garrison’s route to ECU anything but typical

Early signing class evaluation
Pirates on the rise in recruiting wars

Football Recruiting
Healing prep star Hudson on track to sign early

Football Recruiting
Coveted QB recruit Garcia headed to Shrine Bowl

Football Recruiting
Help is on the way for ECU running game

Football Recruiting
Tackle took trek from ballboy to superstar

Football Recruiting
Crump brings ‘shut-down corner’ skills to ECU

Football Recruiting
ECU emerged from the pack to land McIver

Recent Web Roundups

GREG VACEK'S DAILY WEB ROUNDUP
Thursday, February 25, 2021

GREG VACEK'S DAILY WEB ROUNDUP
Wednesday, February 18, 2021

GREG VACEK'S DAILY WEB ROUNDUP
Saturday, February 13, 2021

Writer Archives

  • Bonesville Staff
  • Brian Bailey
  • Sammy Batten
  • Bethany Bradsher
  • Brett Friedlander
  • Al Myatt
  • NFF
  • Greg Vacek
  • Danny Whitford

Recent Web Roundups

GREG VACEK'S DAILY WEB ROUNDUP
Thursday, February 25, 2021

GREG VACEK'S DAILY WEB ROUNDUP
Wednesday, February 18, 2021

GREG VACEK'S DAILY WEB ROUNDUP
Saturday, February 13, 2021

GREG VACEK'S DAILY WEB ROUNDUP
Friday, February 12, 2021

GREG VACEK'S DAILY WEB ROUNDUP
Thursday, February 11, 2021

GREG VACEK'S DAILY WEB ROUNDUP
Tuesday, February 9, 2021

GREG VACEK'S DAILY WEB ROUNDUP
Monday, February 8, 2021

More Web Roundups

Copyright © 2021 Bonesville.net · Website by Seaport Webworks. · Log in · Privacy Policy