Georgia Southern fans can breathe a sigh of relief — it appears their football coach is staying put for the time being.
First-year Eagle coach Chris Hatcher has been at the center of several coaching rumors over the last two weeks, specifically for the head jobs at Georgia Tech and Southern Mississippi.
“A lot of rumors are out there, but I’m the coach at Georgia Southern, and I’m as happy as I can be,” Hatcher said in a phone conversation Wednesday evening while on a recruiting trip. “I’ve been busy recruiting like crazy for Georgia Southern.”
Hatcher’s comments were his first to the media since the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on Monday he’d interviewed with the Yellow Jackets. He didn’t specify if he had talked with Georgia Tech or Southern Miss but said he “has not been seeking any opportunities.”
If another school lured Hatcher away, it would be a devastating blow to a Georgia Southern program in desperate need of stability. Hatcher became the school’s third coach in 13 months when he was hired in January, and the thought of four coaches in four years was unsettling for GSU supporters and players.
In his first season with the Eagles, Hatcher orchestrated an amazing turnaround, helping the team bounce back from a school-worst 3-8 finish in 2006. The team was 7-4 this fall and narrowly missed a Southern Conference title and a trip to the playoffs.
Alex Pellegrino can be reached at (912) 489-9413.
First-year Eagle coach Chris Hatcher has been at the center of several coaching rumors over the last two weeks, specifically for the head jobs at Georgia Tech and Southern Mississippi.
“A lot of rumors are out there, but I’m the coach at Georgia Southern, and I’m as happy as I can be,” Hatcher said in a phone conversation Wednesday evening while on a recruiting trip. “I’ve been busy recruiting like crazy for Georgia Southern.”
Hatcher’s comments were his first to the media since the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on Monday he’d interviewed with the Yellow Jackets. He didn’t specify if he had talked with Georgia Tech or Southern Miss but said he “has not been seeking any opportunities.”
If another school lured Hatcher away, it would be a devastating blow to a Georgia Southern program in desperate need of stability. Hatcher became the school’s third coach in 13 months when he was hired in January, and the thought of four coaches in four years was unsettling for GSU supporters and players.
In his first season with the Eagles, Hatcher orchestrated an amazing turnaround, helping the team bounce back from a school-worst 3-8 finish in 2006. The team was 7-4 this fall and narrowly missed a Southern Conference title and a trip to the playoffs.
Alex Pellegrino can be reached at (912) 489-9413.
