Navy football coach Ken Niumatalolo will not return for the 2023 season, the school announced Sunday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Niumatalolo is the winningest coach in Navy history, departing with a record of 109-83.
- Navy has gone 11-23 over the last three seasons and has had one winning season over the last five years.
- The Midshipmen suffered a double-overtime loss to Army’s Black Knights on Saturday.
- Defensive coordinator Brian Newberry was named interim head coach.
Background
Niumatalolo took over as head coach in 2008. He first joined the Navy program as running backs coach in 1995, then became offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 1997, departed for a stint at UNLV, then returned to the Midshipmen as assistant head coach and offensive line coach before taking over the head-coaching role.
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In the Naval Academy’s first two seasons in the American Athletic Conference, Niumatalolo led the team to a share of the AAC West Division title in 2015 and the outright AAC West title in 2016. The program split the West Division title again in 2019.
Niumatalolo was the second Polynesian head coach in FBS history and the first Samoan collegiate head coach on any level, per the school.
Was this expected?
This ultimately isn’t a surprise. Navy has won four or fewer games in three consecutive seasons and four of the last five years. The Midshipmen are also 2-5 in the last seven matchups with Army, the game the entire season revolves around, and 2-5 against Air Force in the same span. A year ago, after an early loss to Air Force, athletic director Chet Gladchuk fired offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper, long expected to be Niumatalolo’s replacement. Niumatalolo eventually talked Gladchuk into letting Jasper stay on staff as quarterbacks coach, the role he continued this year.
This year’s Navy team improved, but Gladchuk has clearly not been happy with the general direction of the program.
Niumatalolo knew that this season would determine his tenure. After years of COVID issues limiting his team, this year’s group was built and trained like a normal Navy team.
“I’ve been doing this a long time,” Niumatalolo told The Athletic in the summer. “To this point, I feel I’ve been able to build our team like we normally do. Now, if we get crushed again this year, it doesn’t bode well. If we’re 4-8 and get crushed, it doesn’t bode well. The transfer portal is there and the teams will still be tough, but the way I’ve always built our team is by building a team.”
Navy went 4-8, and Niumatalolo was right about the end. – Vannini
Who could replace Niumatalolo?
The service academies run variations of the triple-option offense due to the talent available to them. If Navy stays in that circle, names to watch could include Kennesaw State head coach Brian Bohannon, Army offensive coordinator Brent Davis, Air Force offensive coordinator Mike Thiessen and Newberry.
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Notably, the new-look American Athletic Conference next season will now have seven new head coaches out of 14 schools. – Vannini
What they’re saying
“Our sincerest gratitude to Coach Ken for what has been a distinguished and impactful legacy at the Naval Academy,” Gladchuk said in a release. “Navy football flourished for many years under his leadership. He will forever be remembered for the influence he has had on the lives of those who played for him. We all have great respect and appreciation for his 25 years of service to the Academy.”
Gladchuk added: “The Naval Academy will now move forward with continued high ambitions and embrace a new era of reaffirmed expectations for Navy football and our midshipmen.”
Nebraska football coach Matt Rhule said he felt compelled to express his admiration and respect for Niumatalolo.
“Today is a sad day for college football,” Rhule wrote on Twitter. “I loved competing against you Coach – but above all else you are the one man I would want my kids to play for above all others.”
Required reading
(Photo: James Guillory / USA Today)
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