Saint Mary’s University has responded to their decision not to renew the contract of head coach Steve Sumarah.
In a statement, Athletic Director Steve Sarty says it was time to go in a different direction.
“We have decided to not renew the contract of Coach Sumarah,” explains Sarty. “We have decided that a change is needed moving forward to continue with the standard of excellence that we are so proud of here at Saint Mary’s University.”
On Monday, the university said it would not be renewing the contact of Sumarah when it expires on March 1, 2012.
The Huskies are coming off a 2011 campaign in which their record was 6-2. The team made it to the AUS final but lost to the Acadia Axemen.
Sumarah left ST.FX in 1998 to serve as an assistant coach at SMU under Blake Nill. After the 2005 campaign, Nill left to coach the Calgary Dinos. Sumarah took over and became the first Nova Scotia born head coach in the CIS.
In his seven year tenure as head coach at SMU, Sumarah’s overall record was 29-12 in the regular season. Additionally, he had a record of 4-3 in AUS finals. SMU reached the Vanier Cup in 2007 but lost to Manitoba Bisons in the final.
In the 2009 season, Sumarah was awarded the AUS coach of the year award and the Frank Tindall Award as CIS coach of the year.
“Coach Sumarah has made a significant contribution to Huskies football and we are very appreciative of that,” adds Sarty.
Now the Huskies will focus on looking for Sumarah’s successor.
“We will be posting the position by the end of the week or the first part of next week and our national search for a replacement will take place,” says Sarty.
Sarty was asked about the fate of the remaining coaches on the team.
“All of the remaining coaching staff is intact and there very well be members of the current coaching staff that will apply for the position,” answers Sarty.
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