Published: November 26, 2007 08:43 pm         

Jeff Bower resigns after 17 years

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Southern Miss head football coach Jeff Bower resigned Monday after 17 years. Bower made the announcement at a press conference, after a mutual agreement was reached in a meeting with athletic director Richard Giannini Monday morning.

Bower took the stand at the press conference, flanked by his wife, Debbie and daughter, Stephanie to deliver this statement: “After meeting with Richard Giannini this morning, we came to a mutual decision, that I have resigned as the head football coach at Southern Miss.

"My family and I would like to thank the many fans who have become a part of our family over the years. I would also like to say a special thank you to the many young men - both players and coaches - who have joined me in giving their all to this program. I am proud that we run a clean program - we've run it with integrity, we've won games and most importantly - our student-athletes have left Southern Miss with a degree."

Bower left the somber conference through a gamut of hugs and handshakes from colleagues and assistant coaches.

According to Giannini, Bower will stay on as coach until after the team’s Dec. 22 appearance in the Papajohn’s.com bowl in Birmingham. They will face an as yet undetermined Big East opponent in that game.

Bower, who has been apart of the Southern Miss program for 29 seasons, was a standout quarterback for the school from 1972-75, an assistant coach from 1976 until 1981 and then again in 1989 for a season, before returning following the 1990 campaign as the head coach in an announcement on Dec. 2 of that season, when Curley Hallman left for LSU.

Only Penn State’s Joe Paterno (42), Bobby Bowden (32) of Florida State and Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer (21) have longer tenures. His only losing seasons came in 1991 and ’93.

His record as head coach is 119-82-1, and includes 14 winning seasons, including this one, in which the Golden Eagles finished 7-5. The team has received bowl bids for six straight years, and nine of the last 10 years.

Bower has also led his team to wins over SEC powerhouses LSU, Georgia, Alabama and Auburn. In 2000 his team garnered victories over Alabama, Oklahoma State and TCU. The team also won three outright Conference USA titles under Bower, as well as one shared title.

“We want to take this opportunity to thank Jeff for his loyalty to the University of Southern Mississippi and for his coaching achievements over the last 17 years,” Giannini said. “We really wish him the best in the future and I know he will go down in University of Southern Mississippi athletic history as one of our most outstanding coaches.”

Giannini sited a divided fan base, as well as disappointed donors, as part of the reason behind Bower’s resignation. The Golden Eagles were picked to win Conference USA again this year, but after falling short, fans and donors felt a change had to be made.

“I said all along I was disappointed and people were disappointed in the season, and I don’t change that statement,” Giannini said.

Giannini also praised Bower as part of the reason the Southern Miss coaching position will be attractive to potential applicants. “ When I walked in here nine years ago the facilities were deplorable. Jeff Bower has been a part of that; we all have. We have built it up to what we have today. That will show whoever we seek to be the coach that this program is committed to excellence.”

The search for a new coach will be conducted by Giannini, beginning immediately. He said the school hopes to name a new coach as early as December, but Bower will coach in the Bowl game regardless.



Charlie Hedden writes for the Laurel (Miss.) Leader-Call.