(Posted November 7, 2008)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Juniata College athletic director Larry Bock announced today that Darrell Alt has resigned as head football coach, effective Monday, Nov. 10, 2008.

Alt will complete his fifth season at the helm of the Juniata football program on Saturday, when Juniata hosts Dickinson College at Knox Stadium. He enters Saturday's game with a 5-44 record, including a 1-8 record this season with a 1-6 mark in the Centennial Conference.

"I want to thank Darrell for his effort and his commitment to Juniata football over the past seven seasons, both as our head coach and as an assistant," said Bock. "Darrell ran the program with a great deal of integrity and commitment, and it's unfortunate that the team's record does not reflect the effort and dedication he put forth during his entire tenure at Juniata. I wish Darrell and his wife Kary all the best in their future."

"Darrell came to Juniata with the credo 'carry the bricks', and he has done just that as a coach. He is leaving this program in much better shape than when he found it," said Bock.

Alt was named Juniata's 20th head football coach on an interim basis on June 15, 2004, and was tapped for the position on a permanent basis on January 14, 2005, at the conclusion of the 2004 season. His tenure was the second longest by a Juniata football coach since 1988, and the seventh longest over Juniata's 86 years of varsity football.

Alt joined the Juniata football staff prior to the 2002 season, when he was named linebackers and special teams coach on the staff of former Juniata head coach Kevin Burke.

"In his seven years at Juniata, Coach Alt dedicated himself to our student athletes admirably, and for his efforts he has my thanks and the thanks of the entire Juniata community," said Juniata president Dr. Thomas R. Kepple, Jr. "Darrell has led the team to improve its performance, providing an excellent foundation on which the next head coach can build. We will now work as quickly as possible to fill the head-coaching position, to continue the good work Darrell started, on the way to returning football to the winning tradition for which Juniata athletics is known."

A national search for a new head football coach will begin immediately. Juniata has retained the firm of Alden & Associates, Inc., based in Amherst, Mass., to conduct the search; led by Dr. Elizabeth "Betsy" Alden, Alden & Associates is an executive search firm specializing in athletics administrators and head coaches.

Current football assistant coach Tom Gibboney will continue in his role as head baseball coach at Juniata College.

-30-

Our readers respond...

Be the first to provide a response.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.