By Robert Weiler
A season of avoiding questions and speculations about the future of BYU head football coach Gary Crowton came to an end Wednesday afternoon when he announced his resignation after four years with the Cougars.
'At this time, I feel like it''s time for me to step down and let the football program move on in a different direction,' he said. 'Coming back to Provo and BYU was something I dreamed about as a youngster,' he said. 'It''s been a great honor.'
Following his third consecutive losing season, Crowton met with members of the university''s transitional leadership team and administrators on Monday to discuss the future of the football program.
'I made a lot of mistakes down the road and I''m the one that''s responsible for where we''re at right now,' he said. 'That''s why I''m here resigning. I''m accountable for what happened. I always tried to do the right thing and I made some tough decisions. You gotta always be making decisions to move forward, and I wasn''t afraid to make decisions.'
Senior associate athletic director Tom Holmoe said Crowton presented his vision of the future of BYU football, after which the committee of central and athletic administrators made their position known.
'At the conclusion of those meetings, it was our recommendation to the administration that we make a change,' he said. 'We evaluated the program and told him our position. We suggested the possibilities, and he believed that it was a good time to resign and allow the program to go on.'
Crowton said he understood the concerns and wanted to do what was in the best interests of the program''s progression.
'This program is bigger than I am as an individual,' he said. 'I still feel like I could get it done if I had the opportunity to keep moving, but looking at the players and everything, it was just time to let somebody else moved into this spot.'
Despite one the most difficult schedules in the school''s history this year, which included games against three teams who will likely finish the season with perfect records, Crowton said the business of coaching is about wins.
'The schedule was too tough for our team this year, but it''s not too tough for BYU,' he said. 'We have great character on our team. They were in a position to win eight of our 11 games.'
Crowton said there was some embarrassment to the university with the number of players involved in Honor Code investigations over the last two years and had no intentions to bring negative attention to BYU. Crowton''s contract included an incentive for meeting a certain level of honor code adherence, which he met the first two years but did not in his final two years.
'These things happen and young men make mistakes,' he said. 'But on the same token, the strength and the character of these kids was outstanding at the same time, and that should bring a lot of positive feedback to this program.'
As only the third coach at BYU in the last 40 years, Crowton said the biggest challenge to coaching the Cougars is maintaining the standard that LaVell Edwards set from 1972-2000.
'There are a lot of things that have changed through the years at BYU that a lot of people haven''t seen,' he said. 'The administration is trying to sort through all that and give the student athletes the best opportunities to be successful.'
Crowton thanked his coaching staff, players, family, fans and others who assist with the BYU football program. He said he has not talked to his players yet, but plans to address them.
Holmoe said a nationwide search for a new coach will begin immediately, but would not name any names as possible replacements. A former head coach himself, Holmoe said he will not be considered for the job.
Lance Reynolds, the team''s associate head coach, will be in charge of the day-to-day operations of the team until a new coach is named. No other coaching changes have been made, and Holmoe said every assistant coach will have the opportunity to interview for their position when a new coach is named.
Regarding his future, Crowton said he has talked to a few coaches about opportunities and wants to continue coaching.
'I''ve got more dreams that I want to accomplish in life,' he said. 'I''m thankful for this opportunity and I''ve grown from it, I''m better from it, I''m stronger and I''m ready for my next challenge.'
The former BYU student assistant coach has had experience in both the college and NFL levels, and said he has no preference right now. Although two other local schools have head coaching openings, Crowton said he did not have an interest in the Utah State or Weber State positions.