Brent Guy Fired as Utah State Head Football Coach

Utah State University Director of Athletics Scott Barnes announced Monday [Nov. 17, 2008] that head football coach Brent Guy will step down as the Aggies’ head coach effective at the end of the season. USU has one game left on its schedule as the Aggies host New Mexico State on Saturday, Nov. 29.

 

“I have asked Coach Guy to step down at the end of the season at which time his employment will be terminated,” Barnes said. “I felt it was important for our student-athletes that he finish the season, and he has agreed to stay on through the New Mexico State game. Coach Guy is a classy individual and has represented our university well during his tenure.”

 

Guy is finishing his fourth season at the helm of the Aggies, posting an 8-38 record, including 2-9 this year. USU is currently in seventh-place in the Western Athletic Conference standings with a 2-5 league record. Guy has been head coach of the Aggies all four years of their tenure in the WAC, compiling a 7-24 conference record under him.

 

“Brent has undoubtedly made some progress during his four years but the program has yet to establish any significant or consistent momentum nor has that progress translated into wins. I feel a change in leadership at this critical time in our program’s history will help us create and sustain a new level of success,” Barnes said.

 

In his first year, Utah State was 3-8 overall, 2-6 in the WAC in 2005. The 2006 season saw the Aggies post a 1-11 overall mark and a 1-7 WAC record before logging a 2-10 overall and 2-6 WAC ledger last year.

 

“I’d like to thank the university for providing me with the opportunity to be the head football coach here.  I’m extremely grateful to the coaches, players and support staff for their tremendous hard work, day in and day out,” Guy said. “We didn’t win as many games on the field as I would have liked, but we started down a path that I believe will benefit the university and this program very soon. I wish the university the best of luck in the future, and I wish these young men the best of luck in all their future endeavors, both on and off the football field.”

 

During his tenure at Utah State, Guy had a total of 11 players (four in ‘05, three in ‘06, four in ‘07) earn first or second-team all-WAC honors, including WAC Freshman of the Year Award in 2006 in linebacker Paul Igboeli. Guy also coached four former Aggies who are currently playing in the NFL, including two players getting drafted last year in Kevin Robinson and Shawn Murphy, the first time since 1989 that USU had two players drafted in the same year.

 

Off the field, USU football had a total of 44 players (15 in ‘05, 13 in ‘06, 16 in ‘07) named academic all-WAC. Those numbers from the football program helped Utah State lead the WAC in number of overall academic all-league honorees for the third-straight year, as the Aggies landed 130 student-athletes on the academic all-WAC teams in 2007-08.

 

Guy came to Utah State from Arizona State where he was the defensive coordinator for four years. Guy was an assistant coach (linebackers) at Utah State from 1992-94 under then head coach Charlie Weatherbie. During that time, USU posted its only bowl victory in school history, claiming the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl. Guy was involved in eight bowl games in 19 years as a collegiate assistant coach. Previous stops include Oklahoma State (1986-91 - graduate assistant 1986-87, recruiting coordinator 1988, linebackers 1989-91), Utah State (1992-94 - linebackers), Oklahoma State (1995-97 - linebackers), Boise State (1998-2000 - defensive coordinator) and Arizona State (2001-04 - defensive coordinator) before being named the Aggies’ 25th head coach in December of 2004.

 

USU’s coaching staff includes Jeff Copp (safeties), Darrell Dickey (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks), Mark Johnson (defensive coordinator/linebackers), Shaun Johnson (running backs), Danilo Robinson (defensive line), John Rushing (cornerbacks), Tracy Smith (tight ends), Greg Stevens (wide receivers), Vance Vice (offensive line), Thomas Dunson (graduate assistant-offense) and Tony Flores (graduate assistant-defense/special teams).

 

Brent Guy as Utah State Head Coach:

            All    WAC
2005  3-8    2-6
2006  1-11  1-7
2007  2-10   2-6
2008  2-9     2-5
Total  8-38   7-24