College football head coach taking leave of absence just days before opener
By SDS Staff
Published:
New Hampshire head coach Sean McDonnell is taking a leave of absence just 11 days before his program’s season opener, the university announced Tuesday.
The release states that it’s for health-related reasons.
“Our entire department is aligned in doing everything to support Sean with the intent of getting him back to coaching his program,” said Scarano. “This will be the ultimate team effort; the administration, coaching staff, and most of all the student-athletes will give everything we have to support Jenny and Sean during this challenge.
“UNH football is in great hands with Ricky Santos as its interim head coach,” Scarano added. “Ricky will carry on the principles that Coach Mac has instilled in our nationally recognized program to ensure the team maintains its standard of achievement both on and off the field.”
McDonnell is in his 21st year as the program’s head coach. He played defensive back at New Hampshire from 1975-78.
McDonnell has an overall record of 154-95 during his 21-year career at the school. He won the Eddie Robinson Award in 2005 and 2014, which is given annually to the top FCS head coach.
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
