According to the Hattiesburg-American, App State Athletic Director Charlie Cobb is one of the leading candidates, out of a handful of names, for Southern Mississippi’s AD position. He is the only candidate currently listed by name.
The Hattiesburg American has learned that Appalachian State athletic director Charlie Cobb has emerged as a strong contender for the job headed into the interview process, and that a new athletic director could be named soon.
The Watauga Democrat is also reporting on the above story, saying:
Cobb was not immediately available for comment. Southern Mississippi assistant athletic director in charge of media relations Jack Duggan was also not immediately available for comment.
Should Cobb take over the Southern Miss program, one of his first tasks could be to find a men’s basketball coach. Several reports have said coach Larry Eustachy leaving Southern Miss and becoming the new coach at Colorado State. Eustachy signed a three-year contract worth $380,000, according to the Harrisburg American.
There is a small minority of App fans that say Cobb just happened to be at the right place at the right time. Many criticize his questionable hires for the basketball program. However, I think most fans like the work he’s done improving our facilities and getting our FBS study done. Everyone can agree he made the right hires in other programs like women’s basketball and men’s soccer. In 2011, he was named the “National Collegiate Athletics Directors Association (NACDA) NCAA Division I FCS Southeast Region Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year” (that was a mouthful!).
I always thought if he left, it would be to a BCS type school like his alma-mater NC State. But since he was passed over for that job, he might consider a pay increase and a change of scenery at Southern Miss. Personally I think that would be a step down. One factor he might be considering is that his wife is an assistant coach for the women’s soccer team. Not sure if that same position would be open at So. Miss. Let’s hope he makes the smart decision and stays in Boone where he belongs.
Let us know how you think Charlie Cobb has done so far in the comments!
His departure could throw some kinks into our FBS ventures.
hapapp: I kinda think Appalachian’s FBS aspirations are secure, whether Cobb takes the Southern Miss job or not. My reasoning? I believe Cobb’s logical successor is Rick Beasley. And while Cobb is clearly the driving force behind our interest in FBS, Beasley is in agreement.
But there is this caveat. For those like myself who think FBS is a poor choice of subdivisions for schools like Appalachian, I am comforted in knowing that Beasley is smarter than Cobb. Perhaps Rick will see the light.
[...] CHARLIE COBB TO SO. MISS?: In case you missed it, the big news of the week was the REPORT that our AD Charlie Cobb is the only named candidate for Southern Mississippi’s vacant AD [...]
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