Coach Matthews stays put, agrees to 3-year extension

JMU loses defensive coordinator, special teams coach

photo courtesy of JMU PHOTOGRAPHY Coach Mickey Matthews had compiled a career record of 27-31 during his five-year tenure at the helm of the Dukes' program.

Entering his final season under contract this past season, coach Mickey Matthews endured an injury plagued season with a young squad, arriving at a final 6-6 record. His reward — a three-year contract extension.

Citing improvement being made from season to season, Athletic Director Jeff Bourne offered Matthews an opportunity to continue to build the program through the 2006 season. However, the university did not elect to raise Matthews' salary, as the coach will continue to make approximately $124,700 per season.

With the stability of their coach's job status no longer in limbo, the Dukes now can focus on winter workouts and spring practice red-shirt freshman running back Alvin Banks said.

"I'm glad that all the talk about Coach's [coach Matthews] contract is over so we can concentrate on the season ahead of us," Banks said. "The off-season should run smooth because all the hype over the contract is over."

Another positive attribute resulting from Matthews' extension is the impact on recruiting. Heading down the final stretch until the official NCAA signing day in the first week of February, JMU has retained its coach for just shy of a full recruiting cycle.

"With [Coach Matthews] returning, I think it will allow us to have a more stable recruiting off-season," red-shirt junior quarterback Matt LeZotte said. "One of the main things recruits want to hear when moving on to the college level is that the coach plans on being here for a while. I think with this reassurance, it will help not only our recruiting class, but also the returning players to have confidence in this school and this program."

LeZotte had nothing but praise for his coach, citing youth, inexperience and injuries as the team's significant reasons for past seasons' struggles.

"Making the transition from high school to college isn't easy, and a lot of players have had to play their freshman years without being ready," LeZotte said. "I think with the experience we have returning on offense that our production will be dramatically increased next season."

With expectations high following Matthews' extension and the youth of his team, Banks said the Dukes' goals are pretty simple.

"The goal for next season is to continue to improve and get better as a team," Banks said.

LeZotte, a captain last season and the leader of the offensive unit, has very distinct goals for 2004.

"Anything less than a conference championship would be a disappointment to not only me, but all of the other players on our team," LeZotte said. "I think that we need to just take it a step at a time and use this off-season to make progress toward becoming that championship team."

Two large questions still loom in the near future for the Dukes. First, Matthews needs to replace Dick Hopkins, defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach who left the team in December. Hopkins has spent all five years under Matthews' tenure at JMU and told the team he decided to leave to pursue other personal and coaching endeavors.

Matthews also needs to replace Amos Jones, last years special teams/tight ends coach. After one season with the Dukes, Jones has taken an assistant position with Mississippi State University.

Jones' departure from the program also has created speculation that current offensive coordinator Eddie Davis will return to his post of last season as special teams coach, thus opening up the job of offensive coordinator.

According to Bourne, all personnel decisions are made solely by Matthews and with 100 percent of his support.

When contacted, Matthews was repeatedly unavailable for comment regarding his contract extension.