Wiemers resigns
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Dave Wiemers has resigned as coach of the Emporia State football team, making the announcement after a 3 p.m. meeting with his players today.
ESU finished the season with a 3-8 record, losing its final seven games of the year.
"After committing eight years of my life to ESU football, I feel that it is time for me to step down as head coach," Wiemers said in a released statement. "As difficult as it is to leave, I believe it is the best thing to do for myself, my family and the future of the program."
Wiemers ends his tenure with a 35-32 mark in six seasons as head coach at ESU after serving as an assistant for two years. Following a 5-6 record his first season, he led the Hornets to consecutive 9-3 years in 2002 and 2003. The two-year span included a victory in the 2002 Mineral Water Bowl and ESU’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA Playoffs in 2003. He was named Wilson/MIAA Coach of the Year after the 2003 season.
"I'm very proud of our team and the accomplishments of our program thoughout the last eight years," Wiemers said. "We have taken Hornet football to a new level, and left a solid foundation which the program can continue to grow."
Since 2003, ESU has suffered through three consecutive losing campaigns. The Hornets were 5-6 in 2004, 4-6 in 2005 and 3-8 in 2006.
This year’s squad never did live up to expectations. After being picked sixth in the conference, ESU finished eighth, posting only two conference victories.
The decision came as a shock to many of the players who gathered for the team meeting. Many left with tears in their eyes as they emerged from the locker room.
"It's very unexpected," ESU senior quarterback Justin Whitworth said. "There's a lot of guys in there that weren't really ready for it."
ESU Athletic Director Kent Weiser said the search for a new coach would begin immediately. There is no timetable for the selection of a new candidate.
"ESU Athletics is indebted to Dave Wiemers, and he will be greatly missed," Weiser said in a released statement. "We wish the best for him and his family."
For additional information and reaction, read tomorrow's Emporia Gazette.
mmurphy (anonymous) says...
Give me a break, he didn't resign he was forced out. Why would Kent Weiser dismiss a Coach that has given his all to the program and has the respect of his team and yet we retain a Coach who has used profanity on the air and who sits in his office and plays video poker, on a State computer no less?
November 16, 2006 at 10:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sandygreg (anonymous) says...
It is also clear to me that he was asked to leave. There have been rumors going around that it would happen if they didn't win the last couple of games. We all know that the team is tough and will pull through this with the support of family, friends and the fans. I think that he should have been given at least another year to turn things around. A lot of the games were close games and could have gone either way. Admitted they were losses and close doesn't count in football. The team will survive this setback and maybe they could dedicate next season to Coach Weimers to show him, the college and fans that they can win games.
I am sure that there will remain some lasting friendships with the players and coach Weimers as there was apparent mutual respect between the coach and the players.
I am looking forward to a winning season next year and will make every attempt to make every home game as a true supporter of ESU football.
November 16, 2006 at 10:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporia123 (anonymous) says...
Wiemers had a young team and deserved another year. Weiser did not fund the program to be competitive. So what can we really expect from a program that is underfunded.
Weiser can blame the coach but nothing will change until the University decides to devote the resources to the program that others are spending.
Wiemers is a quality person and coach and fit well with ESU. It is too bad that Weiser did not stand up for his coach.
November 17, 2006 at 7:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
native_emporia (anonymous) says...
It is very unfortunate that comments as these can be made by people without getting all the facts first. It is also very sad that a poorly written article on ESU basketball is still being quoted as fact. It is gossip such as this that can bring a great athletic program like ESU’s down.
By best wishes go out to Wiemers and his family.
November 17, 2006 at 11:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jscott (anonymous) says...
Please accept this notice as support for Coach Dave Wiemers and the direction he was taking by doing things the right way. Why is it always second nature to criticize and second-guess the direction of any athletic program? Because its human nature and the desire too believe that you have the answer and that, there is always something better available on the other side of the fence.
One does not fall from being the 2003 MIAA “Coach of the Year” to one who was forced to resign. Society seems driven by the constant notion on what have you done for me lately, forgetting that our focus should be on the development of our student athletes inorder for them too truly understand the value of commitment and the ability to stay the course when there is adversity.
Nothing will change until the university decides to devote the resources necessary to compete as well as a review of there own house.
November 17, 2006 at 11:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
murchins (anonymous) says...
Its sad that this kind of angst and fervor is rarely displayed for the ACADEMIC professors. It is just football, and athletics should come after academics, not before. I think the whole program should be taken intramural.
November 17, 2006 at 12:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hornet_fan (anonymous) says...
It is also very appearant to me that Caoch Wiemers and his staff, were "asked" to resign. A coaching staff who dedicated their entire life to Hornet Football would obviously not "resign." Coach Wiemers is an amazingly inspirational coach who gave ESU Football a name, gave the players confidence, a sense of comradory, and extreme discipline. He, along with his staff, were not only very dedicated to ESU Football, but also their players. Thursday nights were for study hall and for those who obviously don't know, Coach Wiemers held his players to a high academic standard. Coach Wiemers encouraged his players to exceed academically as well as on the playing field. You can say that this is "just football" as quoted in an above comment, but to Coach Wiemers and his hard working staff-it is their LIFE, their JOB, and they all obviously have a PASSION for the game or they would not be doing what they are doing. Its so sad that it was taken away from them or in other words they "resigned" from what they LOVED! My best wishes go to Coach Wiemers and his staff- Coaches Jon Wiemers, Chet Pobolish, Danny Cavender, Jordan Bell, Clayt Birmingham, Jarod Kruse, Matt Martin, Larry Wiemers, Greg Walls, and Matt Smith. You will all be missed greatly. Good luck to you all and your families.
November 18, 2006 at 12:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
esuhornet (anonymous) says...
I would like to also say thank you to the ESU football coaches before they head their seperate ways. It is unfortunate that the spineless athletic director weasled his way out of this situation when clearly Dave had no choice in the matter. I believe athletics are important but academics come first and how can a coach be fired when the GPA's and graduation rates of these 100 football players is higher than that of the 15 member mens basketball squad. If wins and losses are what matters most to the AD then why is coach moe still around, his teams have regressed since he arrived and picked ninth in the conference. Last comparison, the football strived on family and being together, but yet the men's basketball has had more assistant turnover than any other program, and Juco products that have not produced. In my opinion, someone who follows ESU athletics closely, the administration should be cleaned out before bigger problems come around.
November 21, 2006 at 7:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
esugrad (anonymous) says...
Thank you Mr. Weiser for ruining the football team and especially that of the senior class of this year and next.
November 21, 2006 at 7:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigbleachercreature (anonymous) says...
How wonderful that Kent Weiser has now employed the services of Bill Snyder to help in the search of a new football coach. I imagine that he will also now provide more money for coaching salaries and scholarships, too. I would like to know why this administration did not fund the program properly for Dave Wiemers so that he, his coaches and the players could be competitive? What can we really expect from a program that is underfunded in the MIAA? It is the premiere division II football conference in the country! Dave Wiemers probably has one of the best records of any football coach this university has ever had (and brought the Hornets the MIAA Crown just 3 years ago) ..... and this University lets him walk away? You can't sustain a program at a high level without the moral and financial support from your administration! Unfortunately, I think the wrong folks are leaving ESU.
November 24, 2006 at 12:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
esualum (anonymous) says...
This is absolutely ridiculous. Weiser made a call to his cousin at KSU to get Snyder involved for publicity ONLY. Well, that and the fact that Weiser can't find a good candidate and make a decision like that on his own. You've got to be kidding me. That administration right now is a joke - and I hope for the sake of the community and the university it is SOONER rather than LATER that the President figures it out and gets rid of them.
I attended all but 3 ESU football games this year and think it is a huge mistake that they are getting rid of this staff. This team was a few points away from being 7-4 and then what are we talking about? We're talking about next year and looking forward to it. I think the administration was looking and waiting to get rid of this staff, but why I do not understand. Why would you get rid of one of the best football coaches this program has seen, yet keep a coach who is a disgrace to the ESU athletic program, university, community and even the game of basketball? I have watched many men's basketball games, especially the past few years and if Coach Moe isn't on the hot seat this year, he's definitely in someones pocket.
I believe Kent Weiser is taking the athletic program in the WRONG direction. Also, for the person who made the comment about academics - I agree that academics come first. But I also believe as a faculty member you have to understand and respect the importance of athletics at any university. Look at K-State before their football program became what it has been in the past decade? Their enrollment has skyrocketed, as well as the businesses and general population in Manhattan. There would not be as many faculty without a football program because there wouldn't be as many students. So, these programs - especially football and basketball, help pay the professors paycheck as well.
November 24, 2006 at 11:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )