The Sports Xchange
NCAAF Roundup: Kent to coach at Colo. State, South Alabama assistant found dead
Former Oregon coach Ernie Kent has agreed to become Colorado State’s next head coach, according to multiple reports.
An announcement is expected this week.
Kent took two teams to the Elite Eights in 13 years at Oregon, but was dismissed after the 2009-10 season. He beat out a number of other candidates, including New Mexico State coach Marvin Menzies, Southern Miss coach Larry Eustachy, Weber State coach Randy Rahe and New Mexico assistant Craig Neal, according to reports.
The 57-year-old has a career record of 325-254.
—South Alabama assistant football coach Kurt Crain was found dead in his home Tuesday from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Baldwin County coroner Stan Vinson told The Press-Register.
The 47-year-old was an All-American linebacker at Auburn in 1987 and played with the Oilers and Packers over two NFL seasons.
Crain had been South Alabama’s linebackers coach since 2008.
An investigation into his death was ongoing and that an autopsy was expected to be performed Wednesday, Vinson told the paper.
The paper said Vinson suffered from prostaitis, an infection of the prostate, and has had at least three surgeries.
“We’ve lost a great man, coach and mentor at the University of South Alabama,” Jaguars coach Joey Jones said in a statement. “In my opinion, Kurt was one of the best overall coaches I’ve ever seen. He cared about the players, they respected him greatly, and he was a tremendous football coach and motivator.”
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