Alcorn fires coach again

Coach Ernest T. Jones ends Alcorn State coaching career with 2-10 record.

Ernest T. Jones was fired as Alcorn State’s football coach Tuesday, a year after being hired and three months after an eruption of firings, rehiring and a lawsuit.

In a statement released Tuesday, Alcorn officials said Jones “has been terminated on the grounds of malfeasance and contumacious conduct. The decision was reached following ASU’s fulfillment of due process procedures as indicated under the terms of Jones’ employment contract.” Contumacious is defined as a legal term meaning “obstinately disobedient or insubordinate.” “The decision was what we believed to be the best decision for the campus and our student-athletes. We feel we made the best decision for everyone involved,” Alcorn president Dr. George E. Ross said this morning.

Jones said Tuesday night he would speak with his attorney and make a statement “in a few days.” A university grievance committee rejected Jones’ appeal of his dismissal, bringing another chapter in the coach’s brief tenure at his alma mater to a close. Jones was first reported to have been fired Dec. 11, exactly one year after he was hired and a few days after all of his assistant coaches were fired and then reinstated. In later weeks, Jones sued Alcorn for breach of contract and was reinstated pending an appeal. In the lawsuit, Jones is seeking $3.5 million in damages. He agreed to a three-year, $140,000 per year contract in December 2007, although his lawsuit states he did not sign the contract until last summer and it contained different terms than he had agreed to.

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Dang Soap Opera!! Why leave a true Division I coaching position at Big East Conference Cincinnati to put yourself and family through this HBCU foolishness? Another example why talented Division I football professionals do not seek to place their career in jeopardy by answering the call from MEAC and SWAC football programs. Shame on Alcorn!! The only winner here is Jones' lawyers...They got paid!

-beepbeep