Scovil Learns a Tough Lesson From Dismissal

Doug Scovil said he learned an important lesson from being head coach of the San Diego State football team for the past five years.

“I would not take another job where you have to build a team from recruiting junior college players to recruiting high school players,” Scovil said Tuesday. “It’s too much. “

Five hours earlier, Scovil was officially fired by SDSU President Thomas Day. Scovil was informed of his firing by interim Athletic Director Robert Rinehart Sunday in Honolulu. The football team ended its season with a 10-10 tie against Hawaii Saturday night.

The manner in which the university handled his firing did not sit well with Scovil.

“The way it was handled was hard on my family,” Scovil said. “It was run through the papers. I think it could have been handled a lot better.”

As for the meeting with Day, Scovil said the president did not give any specific reasons for his dismissal.

“It could well be that I was in a bind because they were hiring a new athletic director,” Scovil said. “I really don’t know. Something happened.”

The Aztecs went 5-6-1 and home attendance was considerably down in what was to be the final year of Scovil’s five-year rebuilding plan.

“We just missed this year,” Scovil said. “It’s hard when you work that hard and they pull the rug out from under you. I really enjoyed working with the kids, and this year’s team was particularly good to work with. I think they will be a real good football team next year.”

Scovil said he received a call from Brigham Young University Coach LaVell Edwards Tuesday afternoon, and Edwards noted that the SDSU team was headed in the right direction. Scovil said he did doubted he would return to BYU as an assistant coach, and that he did not think the Cougars had any openings on the coaching staff.

Since coming to SDSU from BYU, where he was considered a wizard as offensive coordinator, Scovil compiled a 24-32-1 record.

Day said he thought Scovil did a “fine job at San Diego State,” but he “felt this was the time was right to make a change.” He would not comment on whether Scovil will be offered another position at the university.

Scovil said he will start looking for another job in football. A former head coach at the College of San Mateo and University of Pacific and assistant coach with the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears, he has connections.

“I will probably be an assistant again,” Scovil said. “And then, hopefully, I’ll get another shot at being a head coach.”

Fred Miller, who was named athletic director Tuesday, met with Scovil and with Scovil’s assistant coaches Tuesday afternoon. Special teams coach Gary Zauner said Miller plans to meet with the football staff again on Thursday.

“He said his main concern was taking care of us,” said Zauner. “He said we would probably interview with the new head coach, and then it would be up to that coach whether we stay on.”