JMU Search Narrows
HARRISONBURG — James Madison’s search for its next football coach is nearing its conclusion, but according to multiple sources, there are no interviews scheduled for this weekend.
A decision is expected to come next week, the sources said.
FootballScoop.com reported Friday that ex-James Madison offensive coordinator Jeff Durden – currently the offensive coordinator at University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, an FCS program – has interviewed for the JMU job. According to the website, which is run by an ex-college coach and reports on coaching news, former Virginia Tech tight ends coach Bryan Stinespring has also interviewed with JMU.
On Friday, WCIV-TV in Charleston, S.C., reported that The Citadel coach Mike Houston – having finished his second season at the FCS school – was scheduled to interview this weekend. However, sources refuted that report.
FootballScoop, meanwhile, reported that Houston is in the mix for the JMU job.
According to the website, JMU hoped to make a decision on Thursday but that did not happen.
JMU is looking to replace Everett Withers. Madison’s ex-coach left this month to take over at Texas State, an FBS team in the Sun Belt Conference. Withers spent two seasons at Madison and compiled an 18-7 record, going 0-2 in the FCS playoffs.
In the interim, former JMU outside linebackers coach John Bowers is serving as the Dukes’ director of player personnel. Bowers is in charge of overseeing day-to-day team operations. Madison is hosting about 15-20 recruits this weekend, a source said. Those figure to be key visits with national signing day rapidly approaching on Feb. 3.
Madison is again using Carr Sports Associates, a consulting firm run by former Florida and Houston athletic director Bill Carr, to aid in its search. Carr helped JMU find Withers in 2013.
Houston led The Citadel to a 9-4 record in 2015 and a 6-1 mark in the FCS Southern Conference. The Bulldogs won a share of the conference title and qualified for the playoffs, making their first postseason appearance in 23 years. Houston was named Southern Conference Coach of the Year.
The Citadel’s marquee win came on Nov. 21 when the Bulldogs upset Southeastern Conference foe South Carolina, marking just the third time a Southern Conference team has ever defeated an SEC team.
Houston’s teams at The Citadel have amassed a record of 14-11 over his two seasons. In five seasons at Division II Lenoir-Rhyne (2011-13) and The Citadel, Houston is 43-19 as a head coach. He would likely see a significant pay bump should he get the Madison job – Houston’s base salary is $210,000 per year at The Citadel. Withers made $325,000 last season at JMU.
A 1994 Mars Hill (N.C.) University graduate, Houston rose through the coaching ranks as a defensive assistant at several North Carolina high schools. He served as defensive coordinator at D-II Brevard College in 2006 before serving as Lenoir-Rhyne’s DC the next season.
Durden, 51, served as JMU’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under former big whistle Mickey Matthews for nine seasons, but Durden was fired after the 2012 season. Madison won the 2004 FCS national championship with Durden running its offense.
Under the Dublin, Ga., native’s direction, the Dukes ran a run-oriented spread offense that proved highly effective with Rodney Landers and Justin Rascati pulling the trigger at quarterback. In Durden’s final season, Madison averaged 28.8 points and 391.5 yards per game, but went 7-4 and missed the playoffs for the third time in four years.
Durden’s daughter – former Harrisonburg High School soccer player Hannah Durden – is currently a freshman on the soccer team at Chattanooga.
Stinespring – a 1986 JMU graduate – was a longtime assistant under legendary Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer. Stinespring was offensive coordinator for the Hokies from 2002 through 2012, but lost his play-calling duties to Mike O’Cain late in that time. When O’Cain was fired after the 2012 season, Stinespring was reassigned to tight ends coach, while remaining in his role as recruiting coordinator.
Stinespring, 52, is regarded as an ace recruiter in the state, mining the fertile Hampton Roads region during most of his tenure with the Hokies. Stinespring was considered a strong candidate for the JMU position two years ago when Withers was hired.