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Details released after Austin Peay head coach Mark Hudspeth suddenly resigned following 11-win debut season
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Things were definitely confusing at Austin Peay after head coach Mark Hudspeth suddenly resigned during the July 4th weekend after leading his team to an 11-win season his first year with the program.
Now, more details have emerged regarding the situation at Austin Peay related to Hudspeth’s resignation.
According to Austin Peay AD Gerald Harrison, who spoke with George Robinson of the Clarkesville Leaf-Chronicle, Hudspeth had been suspended by the school prior to his resignation. His suspension was to be from June 17 to July 10 and was an unpaid suspension.
Harrison pointed out that the suspension was unrelated to COVID-19 and a recent outbreak on the Austin Peay campus. Instead, the suspension was related to two clauses in Hudspeth’s contract that were violated.
Here are the two clauses in Hudspeth’s contract that were violated, as outlined by the Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle:
Section 10.1.2 of Hudspeth’s contract says “if the Athletic Director determines in his reasonable discretion that coach Hudspeth has willfully engaged in conduct that is clearly contrary to the character and responsibilities of a person occupying the position of Head Football Coach and which negatively or adversely affects the reputation of the University or its athletic programs in any material way.”
According to Section 10.1.8, “Egregious personal conduct that is reasonably determined by the Athletic Director or President to negatively, adversely and materially affect the reputation or operation of the APSU athletics program.”
That designation is very different from the personal statement given by Hudspeth when he expressed a desire to “take some time away from the game” to spend time with his family. In his one year with the program, Hudspeth led the team to 11 wins and a trip to the FCS playoffs.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.