Head football coach Dr. Cornelius Coleman, defensive coordinator Dave Arnold, and special teams coordinator Dominic Bornman were relieved of their duties on Tuesday morning.

“We made a decision to make a change with the football program,” Director of Athletics Tim Fusina said.

Through four seasons, Coleman accrued a record of 14-26, never finishing with a winning record.

Attempts to reach Coleman for comment were unsuccessful by publication.

Arnold entered the program alongside Coleman in December 2021 after spending four seasons as the defensive coordinator at fellow PAC member Bethany College.

Bornman’s dismissal comes after just one season on the Yellow Jackets’ staff.

Tyler Richmond, a three-year starting wide receiver under Coleman, said the team received a text from Coleman around noon, calling a surprise team meeting in which Coleman informed the team of his dismissal.

“I was kind of in shock,” Richmond said. “It just really hurt because he was my coach for three years. He’s done so much for the program and he’s the reason I’m at this university in the first place.”

Richmond also expressed the difficulties that might come with a new head coach.

“It’s not going to be an easy transition because coach Coleman implemented certain things into [the program] that maybe the new coach won’t like,” Richmond said.

Junior running back Carson Shriver just finished his season with 810 rushing yards and nine touchdowns along with 18 catches for 123 yards. Shriver, another player under Coleman for three years, was also shocked by the decision, thinking the program was heading upwards.

“He was starting to change the culture and then this happens,” Shriver said. “It still doesn’t feel real.”

Shriver explained how he heard the news. 

“I was told by a player right before we held the actual meeting.” Shriver said. “I was like ‘Come on your messing with me, there’s no way he got fired.’”

The remaining coaches on the staff consist of offensive coordinator & recruiting coordinator Phil Hamilton, offensive line coach Russ Moore, defensive backs coach Greg Johnston, running backs coach Aaron Giorgi, and specialists coach Joshua Wilson.

The position opening for “Head Football Coach” has been posted under the “Careers” tab on the university website, but no official statement of Coleman’s dismissal has been released.

Stacey Brodak, the vice president for institutional advancement and university relations, declined to comment about the dismissal due to university policy on not allowing staff to “comment on personnel changes.”

While the reasons for dismissal are still unclear, the university will start its search for the new head football coach.

Some qualifications under the job listing include “a minimum of five years of successful collegiate football coaching experience,” the ability to supervise a staff, along with “strong communication and leadership skills.”

No early candidates have been mentioned, but Shriver has a candidate in mind.

“Coach Phil [Hamilton] knows what we’ve been through, and I know he’d be a great head coach for this team.” Shriver said.