Army marches Berry out the door

From Bonesville.net Staff and Wire Reports

If Army breaks its skid this Saturday against an equally struggling East Carolina team, it will do so without Todd Berry on the sidelines.

Pirate Radio 1250: Replay a segment from Monday's Live@5 featuring Army Radio Network analyst Dean Darling, who talks about the firing of Army coach Todd Berry and the Black Knights' Saturday game with East Carolina... Select clip...

Lt. Gen. William J. Lennox Jr., superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy, announced the contract of Todd Berry as head coach was terminated on Monday. Specific conditions were not released.

Lennox said his decision was based on the team's lack of progress.

"The Corps of Cadets and the fans of Army football deserve a competitive program that is representative of this great institution," said Lennox.

The Army team is winless in six starts this year. Berry's record since taking over as head coach at Army in December 1999 is 5-35.

Saturday's visit to Michie Stadium by reeling East Carolina, another 0-6 team, may represent the most realistic opportunity the Black Knights have had this season to earn a victory.

Ironically, Berry served during the Steve Logan era as East Carolina's offensive coordinator from 1992-95, a period during which the Pirates made two Liberty Bowl appearances. In 1996, Berry was named head coach at Illinois State, where he turned the perennially-losing Redbirds program into a I-AA powerhouse during his four-year tenure.

"We will work diligently in the weeks ahead to identify the next person to lead our football program," Lennox said in a statement. "The search will be handled professionally and confidentially, respecting the sensitivities of those candidates that are currently 'in-season' with professional and collegiate organizations."

Black Knights defensive line John Mumford will immediately assume head coaching duties on an interim basis. Mumford has coached the defensive line for Army the past four seasons and served as head coach at Southeast Missouri State from 1990-1999.

"With seven games remaining on our schedule, John Mumford will provide our program with leadership as we continue the season," Lennox said. "He possesses a wealth of head coaching experience and his knowledge of the offense and defense will be helpful."

``We have a commitment to restore the competitive vitality to the program,'' athletic director Rick Greenspan said.

A search will be under way in the next few weeks for a successor, Lennox said. The Army team was informed of the coaching change at a team meeting Monday afternoon.

``I hate losing and the players hate it,'' said Greenspan, who hired Berry. ``It bothers them significantly. You can certainly sense their frustration. They're bitterly disappointed because they're representing a historic program.''

Army is 7-31 in the Conference USA, which it joined in 1998. Citing schedule constraints, Lennox announced in July that Army would leave the conference after the 2004 season to become an independent again.

Greenspan said he had heard a ``good amount'' of dissatisfaction from alumni. The precipitous fall for a team that won a school-record 10 games in 1996 under former coach Bob Sutton and also went to the Independence Bowl that year was especially disconcerting to former players.

``I think the fact they're not competitive and have had a tough time has been difficult to accept,'' Doc Blanchard said in a phone interview from his Texas home.

Blanchard, ``Mr. Inside'' and the 1945 Heisman Trophy winner, and Glenn Davis, ``Mr. Outside'' and the Heisman winner the next year, led Army to national championships in 1944 and 1945.

02.23.07 10:48 AM