Report: Butch Davis not returning to FIU, administration 'sabotaging' football program
Florida International head football coach Butch Davis will not be returning to the program for the 2022 season, according to a report from Action Network’s Brett McMurphy. His contract will expire on Dec. 15 but officials within the university declined his request for a 1-year extension.
Davis has been the head coach at FIU since 2017, posting a 24-30 record in 5 seasons. He’s led the Golden Panthers to 3 bowl games and a victory over Miami in 2019 during his tenure, but the team sits just 1-9 in 2021.
Last year, FIU ended 0-5.
The news on Davis might not even be the biggest to come out of FIU regarding its football program, though. According to McMurphy’s report, Davis stated that the administration has been “sabotaging” the program.
FIU has been playing with uniforms that are 9 years old and is using shoulder pads that were donated by Mississippi State because of the school’s reluctance to offer the funds for updated equipment. The shoulder pads are at least 10 years old.
“This year has been a nightmare,” Davis told McMurphy. “You can imagine the players’ reaction when a coach’s job was posted online. The administration has been sabotaging the program.
“Their decisions to post the job has resulted in a major negative impact on the football program and our ability to recruit and retain players.”
Davis also said that FIU’s staff was not permitted to go on the road to recruit because of financial concerns.
Davis has coached in the college ranks for 15 seasons as a head coach. He’s had stops at Miami, North Carolina and FIU. He’s compiled an 87-73 record during his time and has taken his teams to 10 bowl games.
From 2001-04, Davis was the head coach of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.