Over the last several years Kirby Cannon has turned down a pair of offers to be head coach at other NCAA Division II football programs and one offer to return to the NCAA Division I as an assistant.
The last offer, however, was too good to turn down.
Cannon, who has served as Miner football head coach the past 11 seasons, has resigned that post, the school announced on Friday.
Cannon has accepted a position on the staff at NCAA Division I Central Michigan University. He will coach defensive backs and recruit the Chicago area.
“It was time,” said Cannon, who took over a Miner program that had hit rock-bottom in 1999 and brought it back to respectability in recent seasons. “But it’s tough. Leaving Northeast Missouri (now Truman State) was probably as tough, because that team wanted me to stay and be the head coach. But this one is tough...11 years of work here. And I know it has been limited success, but I think the program is now in position for continued success.”
“Kirby has done an outstanding job with our program,” said S&T Athletic Director Mark Mullin, who hired Cannon as coach back in 1999. “He has been actively involved with our local and campus communities, strengthened alumni relations, supported our department and served as an exceptional leader for our football program. I am proud of the young men who have represented our institution during his tenure.
“There are not many opportunities for coaches to get to the top level of NCAA football and when that opportunity comes it is difficult to turn down. Central Michigan has an outstanding football program and they are getting a tremendous individual in Kirby Cannon. I am sorry to see Kirby leave after 11 years of service but I do wish him the best. Going forward we are committed to finding the right individual to continue to develop outstanding student-athletes and strengthen our program, and that process will begin immediately.”
Cannon is joining the staff of new Central Michigan head coach Dan Enos, a good friend. Cannon and Enos worked together on the Northern Michigan staff in the 1990s.
The Central Michigan Chippewas finished the 2009 season with a 12-2 record and defeated Troy in a GMAC Bowl shootout in January after winning the Mid-America Conference championship. Enos replaces Butch Jones, who accepted the head coaching position at the University of Cincinnati prior to the bowl game.
“Central Michigan is a school that sees itself being a BCS-buster,” Cannon said. “The student support is extremely high. And they’re not that much in the shadow of Michigan and Michigan State. They were 12-2 and won the MAC conference undefeated last year. They won a bowl game and had one of the best players in the nation. Following that is a little daunting.”
Last season Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour set a major college record for combined touchdowns passing, rushing and receiving.
Cannon took over a Miner football program in shambles. The program was winless the year before he took over as well as his first year on the job. In fact, S&T won just four games in Cannon’s first five years.
However, the number of football scholarships were increased under his watch, alumni donations to the program increased and following the 2004 campaign the school left the murderous Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA).
That, combined with an exciting, high-scoring spread offense that was installed, helped turn around Miner football fortunes. After 19 consecutive non-winning seasons S&T has posted winning campaigns in three of the last five years. The 2009 campaign was marred with a slew of injuries on both sides of the ball and, despite winning four of their last five games, the Miners finished 4-7.
Cannon had a 35-86 overall record at S&T, including a 28-27 mark the past five seasons.
The past few years S&T has been a part of a non-sanctioned conference, the Great Lakes Football Conference. The Miners won that league title in 2008. Last month it was announced that S&T’s new athletic conference, the Great Lakes Valley Conference, will sanction football as a league sport starting in 2012.
“I knew what this program was when I came,” Cannon said. “That excited me. With the value of education at this university it was obvious we could win again.
“The scholarship restructuring after 2003 was huge. Leaving the (MIAA) has been a good thing and the new conference has worked out well. Our locker rooms have been renovated. Our weight room is now top of the line. We have a new indoor facility coming. You’re never done, but nothing’s happened here that’s made me want to leave. I just see Central Michigan as a job very attractive.”
Cannon, now age 52, also felt the time was right at this stage in his life. “I didn’t feel a super need to go back to Division I,” he said. “But it’s something simpler at Division I...I’m paid to coach my position and recruit.
“I’m looking forward to beginning relationships with the players. As a head coach sometimes you don’t get to do that as much as you’d like.”
Cannon won’t be wasting much time...he’s scheduled to report to his new job on Monday. “I’m the only member of the staff who has been a head coach,” he said. “There’s some things I can help them with; things I’ve got experience in.”
Cannon feels the S&T football program is in a position to continue moving forward, particularly with a new conference on the horizon.
“I’m going to miss this place,” he said. “I’ve made a lot of friends here. And I think Chancellor (John F.) Carney has been very good for the school first and athletics second. I’ve enjoyed freedom and the confidence of my athletic director, and that’s huge.
“I think the program is very strong. There is a very good player talent base coming back and the scholarship structure is good. I feel there are very good internal candidates (for the head coaching post). Our coaches have been very productive and loyal assistants to me. I hope an internal candidate is strongly considered.”
Cannon said his wife, Lisa, and her son, Josh Ledbetter, age 14, will leave for Michigan after the public school semester ends.
