10/28/2001 - Football
Weatherbie Relieved Of His Duties
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ANNAPOLIS, Md.-The United States Naval Academy announced Sunday that head football coach Charlie Weatherbie has been relieved of his duties effective immediately and defensive coordinator Rick Lantz has been named the interim head coach.
In six-plus seasons at the Naval Academy, Weatherbie compiled a record of 30-45 (.400), including losses in 17 of the last 18 games. Since compiling back-to-back winning seasons in 1996 (9-3, Aloha Bowl Champions) and 1997 (7-4), the Mids have won just nine of the last 41 contests (.220), including a 3-15 mark (.167) at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Weatherbie posted a 3-3 (.500) mark against Army and a 1-6 (.143) record against Air Force.
"I have the utmost respect for Charlie Weatherbie as a man, and I'm particularly grateful for all of the hard work and effort he has put into his players and this institution," said Vice Admiral John Ryan, USN, Superintendent of the Naval Academy. "We wish Charlie and his family the very best in the future."
"Coach Weatherbie's contributions to the Academy, both on and off the field, have been numerous and we appreciate his efforts over the past seven years," said Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk. "However, the head football coach at the United States Naval Academy assumes a very important responsibility. He is asked to annually field a highly competitive and successful program that reflects standards of achievement consistent with our institutional mission. This season, unsuccessful to date, has led us to the conclusion that the midshipmen clearly need a new perspective and consequently new leadership. Change at season's end was inevitable, but acting today provides the administration with critical additional lead-time to invite and recruit interest from the coaching community for this important position. Defensive coordinator Rick Lantz, an experienced Division I veteran, will assume interim head coaching responsibilities for the remainder of the season."
"My family and I have thoroughly enjoyed our time at the Naval Academy and our close association with the members of the Naval Academy Athletic Association, the Naval Academy Administration and, in particular, the young midshipmen involved in our football program," said Weatherbie. "While we weren't able to achieve more success during the past two years in terms of our won-loss record, I am extremely proud of our players and staff's efforts on and off the field. It was a privilege to have been associated with young men who will be the future leaders in our Navy and Marine Corp. I wish them all the best in their careers."
Lantz, who returned to Navy this year as the defensive coordinator after serving as the defensive coordinator the last 15 years at Louisville and Virginia, will have the opportunity to be a head coach on the collegiate level for the first time.
"We are going to give it everything we have to win these last three football games," said Lantz. "I want these seniors to go out on a winning note."
Lantz came to Navy from Virginia, where he had been the defensive coordinator for Naval Academy graduate George Welsh for the past 10 seasons.
At Virginia, Lantz oversaw the Cavaliers' change from a 5-2 defensive alignment to a more aggressive 4-3 scheme. Since the change, Virginia has consistently boasted one of the best defenses in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the nation.
Lantz also coached the linebackers at Virginia for seven seasons and helped develop some of the greatest linebackers in school history, including current NFL standouts James Farrior and Jamie Sharper.
Lantz came to Virginia from Louisville, where he spent five seasons as defensive coordinator and linebacker's coach. During his final season at Louisville in 1990, the Cardinals finished with a 10-1-1 record and defeated Alabama, 34-7, in the Fiesta Bowl.
As a 35-year veteran of collegiate football, he spent six years at the Naval Academy, and was an assistant coach with the New England Patriots of the National Football League in 1981. Before joining the Louisville football coaching staff in 1986, he served as defensive line coach for two seasons at Notre Dame and defensive coordinator for two seasons at Georgia Tech. His other assistant coaching stops include Miami (Fla.) (1977-80), Navy (1971-76), Buffalo (1968-70) and Boston University (1965-67). While at Navy, Lantz was a defensive assistant for Rick Forzano (1971-72) and George Welsh (1973-76).
Lantz also served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps and was the head football coach at Bridgton Academy in Bridgton, Maine, in 1964.
