Hello. Welcome to this week’s FOIAball. Let’s dive right in.
In this week’s newsletter, we’re covering:
How lightning-quick hires happen
Records show ADs schedule interviews before firing coaches.The reality of being dismissed
Yes, canned coaches need to meet with HR.Details on hirings and firings across the country
We got records from Missouri, WVU, Akron, Houston, UTEP, Texas A&M, and more.Soup season officially kicks off
It’s finally cold. In this week’s FOIAball Food, let avgolemono bring you back to life.
It’s already firing season. Here’s how it really goes down.
On Sunday, Penn State rid itself of James Franklin.
There was little sympathy to be found for the coach (who doesn’t deserve any to begin with), given he’ll walk away from Happy Valley with $50 million in severance.
But there’s no amount of money, no level of prestige, that can shield anyone from the indignities of being dismissed.
Sitting down with HR. Returning your corporate credit card. Handing over your all-access pass. And, worst of all, having your former employer explain how COBRA works.
Then, finding out later (in this newsletter) that your boss scheduled interviews with new candidates before letting you go.
To see what goes into these very public terminations, FOIAball obtained dismissal letters, separation agreements, emails from athletic directors, and expenses for university presidents.
We wound up learning a lot along the way. So come join us.
On Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) fired head coach Dana Dimel.
Dimel, who passed away a year later, spent five seasons with the Miners. He only cracked .500 once, going 1-11 in each of his first two years and 3-9 in his last.
ESPN’s Andy Rittenberg broke the news that Sunday at 10:46 a.m.
UTEP posted its press release announcing the change at 11:30 a.m., 45 minutes later.
After thanking Dimel, it said, “A national search will begin immediately.”
That wasn’t quite true. It was already underway.
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