Idaho football coach Robb Akey has been terminated effective immediately and Offensive Coordinator Jason Gesser will take over as head coach on an interim basis, the athletic department announced Sunday.
“The President (Duane Nellis) and I believe it is important to make this move now so we can immediately begin the process of hiring a new coach for the 2013 season,” Athletic Director Rob Spear said. “We appreciate Coach Akey’s enthusiasm and dedication to the University of Idaho but this is the right move at this time.”
The termination comes on the heels of Akey’s 70th game as coach of the Vandals, a 70-28 loss at La. Tech. Akey is 20-50 in his five-and-a-half seasons with Idaho and 1-7 this season.
Spear said a search for Akey’s replacement will begin immediately.
News conference audio —
Rob Spear
Jason Gesser
Akey signed a contract extension in June 2010 following the Vandals’ Humanitarian Bowl victory. The extension was set to extend through 2014. Per terms of the agreement, if terminated, Akey would receive his base annual salary of $165,796.80 per year “until the terms of this agreement ends or until (Akey) obtains employment, which occurs first.”
In Akey’s third season with the Vandals, he led the team to a 8-5 record which included a Humanitarian Bowl victory, Idaho’s second ever bowl victory.
Notable players to play under Akey include San Francisco 49ers left guard Mike Iupati, Houston Texans safety Shiloh Keo and former Chicago Bears quarterback Nathan Enderle.
Idaho starting quarterback Dominique Blackman along with other Vandals took to Twitter following Akey’s termination to express their feelings.
Honestly me or my cousin ken wouldn’t have got a chance if it wasn’t for Akey #RIP86 #akeyarmy
— #itsallforKEN#⃣3⃣ (@vandalsQB3) October 21, 2012
Akey was the glue that held us together. I can say as a team we played for him. Not even for ourselves.We love Akey we need Akey #akeyarmy
— Taylor J Elmo (@TjMO81) October 21, 2012
Wishing nothing but the best for Coach Akey. Great coach/mentor who truly cared for his players. Still a lot of coaching left in him I hope.
— Nathan Enderle (@nenderle) October 21, 2012
Wish Coach Robb Akey the best. Idaho won bowl game in 09, Vandals became our “official” team. Been a rough stretch for a good guy. #Nolte
— Scott Van Pelt (@notthefakeSVP) October 21, 2012
Gesser, who has been on the Idaho staff for two seasons, spent time as a quarterback in the NFL and Canadian Football League after playing his college football at Washington State. Before coming to Idaho, Gesser coached the Eastside Catholic High School Crusaders from Sammamish, Wash., for two seasons.
Distant Fan
As a distant fan I watch every Saturday. The team captains know their players and were elected by their team-mates. It is time to trust in them and let them lead their team on to win the remaining games as I know they can. Aaron Grimes, defensive captain and Mike Scott, offensive captain have the knowledge, drive and ability and Gesser will be wise to utilize their talents as the true talents they are and not stiffle them as I think they have been in the past. When they come out of their huddle one already knows the play they are trying. Running up the middle makes no sense when opposing team "reads" the play and is there. Think outside the box and look for the opening and go for it. Look for the wide receiver who is open and throw the ball to them not the one who the QB decided he was going to throw to during the huddle. So many opportunities that have been missed and the plays have made no sense. I hope someone will listen to these team captains and hello TEAM CAPTAINS, make the winning plays like I know you can. Mike and Aaron, please lead your team like you mean it, insist on claiming your elected right, you are good players and we want to see you on every play and lead your teammates like they have never been lead before! You can all do it, we have faith in you. This is your last chance of the season. Make the best of it and show everyone what was needed.
Alex
The wrong man was fired. FIRE SPEAR!!
distantfan
It is all relative JP. Idaho very well could have been 0-70 over the same course of games had it not been for Akey. He pulled a poor program up out of the mud even if ever so briefly until the mud(Spears administration) sucked him back down.
Fichtner
Spear needs to go. His track record speaks for itself. He's not Athletic Director material and needs to be pressured to resign. I cringe to see how a former high school coach can make the Vandals look worse, and cringe even more to see who Spear hires next. Can we all not remember Dennis Erickson? Spear was lucky to find Akey. Until Spear is gone I'm not going to go to another athletic event.
BJack
Coaches KNOW they'll be let go eventually. I believe this is only a guy trying to save his job and hiring the young Gesser is a move to get a young guy who they can pay a miniscule amount and hope he works out. No Solid Coach is taking this job with the backtracking that is going on here with Conference realignment and sub par talent.
Disappointed
Coach Akey was a great coach, a great man and mentor to all the players he coached while at Idaho. Idaho has never been the best place to coach given the circumstances, but Coach Akey made all his players want to play and play hard. This is a terrible situation which I believe reflects on the entire Idaho Athlethic Department and they have their out now. Good luck finding someone to coach at the Unviersity of Idaho -- who would want to, especially while Spear is still in charge. Wish Coach Akey and his family nothing but the best and a new coaching job where he will be appreciated for all he brings!
El Curto
Rob Spear just lost all of the publicity the Idaho Football Program garnered. Robb Akey put that program in the spotlight. His enthusiasm and passion for coaching the kids that he brought to Moscow will never be matched. Coach Akey will land on his feet somewhere else, soon. However, this might be Spear's last hoorah.
Geoff
They fired the wrong "ROB"! Spear is the one who needs to go. Akey is a great man - Spear, not so much. In fact, didn't he hook Idaho up with Erickson and his team of full of felons many of whom Akey had to send packing when he took over ? We'd be putting the For Sale sign on Rob Spear's lawn if Nellis had a spine.
Vandal Tuba '02
From what I saw as a fan, Coach Akey showed immense character and integrity. Having a coach of that caliber is a rare thing. I think we've made a big mistake in letting him go. This is an academic football program, and in my mind, good character is more important than win-loss records.
Rich Breshears
Akey was a great coach, and a great man. He's better than the U of I. The problem comes from many years ago when a slew of poor decisions were made. I blame our regents and the poor management of our athletic directors over the years.