URI Hands Football Coach Joe Trainer a Pink Slip After 3-9 Season
Monday, November 18, 2013
Just two days after a 41-0 loss to Maine to close the season, University of Rhode Island Head Football Coach Joe Trainer was relieved of his duties effective immediately, Athletic Director Thorr Bjorn said in a statement released this afternoon.
Trainer had been in charge of the football program for 5 seasons. Saturday's loss dropped the Rams to 3-9 on the year and 12-44 over Trainer's tenure. He had one year left on his contract.
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"I have enjoyed my six years here at the University of Rhode Island," Trainer said in the press release. "I am thankful for the opportunity to have worked with so many quality people."
Trainer came to URI to be Darren Rizzi's Defensive Coordinator in 2008. After the 2008 season he left to assume the DC position at Bowling Green University, only to return months later to become URI Head Coach following Rizzi's departure to the NFL.
For all of Rhody's on field struggles under Trainer's guidance, the program became a source of great pride in the community during the Trainer era.
Trainer organized an annual bone marrow registration drive that partnered with the Rhode Island Blood Center and “Be A Match.” Over his 5 years the drives have produced 10 exact matches for bone marrow donations and 2 players and one assistant coach became donors over that span.
44 of Trainer's players received CAA All-Academic Honors over his 5 years at the helm. Trainer was CAA Coach of the Year in 2010, and the Rams were 8-32 in conference play under his coaching.
Bjorn announced that the search for Trainer's replacement would begin immediately. The Athletic Department will not be commenting any further on the situation until a new coach has been named.
