A new year will bring with it a new face at the helm of the Big Red football program. The University announced that three-year head coach Kent Austin would be leaving the Big Red for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. Austin accepted a position that makes him the Vice President of Football Operations, General Manager, and Head Coach of the organization.
Austin has experience in the CFL both as a player and a coach, winning four Grey Cups during his time in the league. He last won a Grey Cup as head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2007, a campaign that earned him the CFL Coach of the Year award.
With the Big Red, Austin had an 11-19 record over his three seasons as head coach going 6-15 in Ivy League play. This season, he coached to a 4-6 record with two victories against Ivy League opponents Yale and Princeton. Throughout his time at Cornell, he coached 2011 Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year Jeff Mathews as well as 13 other players who received All-Ivy Honors.
In a statement released by Cornell Athletic Communications, Austin praised Cornell administrators for the strides made by the program over the past few years.
“I want to sincerely thank Cornell for the unbelievable opportunity they provided,” Austin said. “In particular, I want to thank President David Skorton, Vice President Susan Murphy and Athletic Director Andy Noel. Their complete commitment to this program will ensure Cornell’s success on the field for many years to come. They each have my utmost respect and admiration, and Cornell is very fortunate to have leaders of this caliber. Cornell is a special place with very special people, and I will miss them all.”
The search for Austin’s replacement is currently underway.
Who is on our short list to replace Coach Austin?