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| (Left) Former ASU HC Will Wagner - (right) New ASU HC Jeff Girsch |
Link to Complete Story - San Angelo Standard-Times
Link to Complete Story - Conchosports.com
(Note - "interim" tag not used in statements)
News Release from Angelo State
SAN ANGELO - Head football coach Will Wagner has been dismissed by Angelo State University, effective Nov. 3.
"We met with Coach Wagner over the weekend and informed him of our decision," said James Reid, ASU director of athletics. "We wish Will the very best, and we are grateful for his dedication to our athletics program and the lives of our students."
Wagner started the 2018 football season with a 42-36 overall record at Angelo State. As of Saturday, his record for this season was 6-4. Wagner came to Angelo State in 2011 after 11 seasons as an assistant coach at Northwest Missouri State University.
"We appreciate Coach Wagner for bringing a fresh approach to Rams football eight years ago," said Dr. Brian May, president of Angelo State. "He made valuable contributions to our football program and championed the overall success of our student-athletes."
The university has named Jeff Girsch as head coach to succeed Wagner. Girsch will take over the Rams in his fifth season at Angelo State.
"Coach Girsch has been an outstanding leader and defensive coach for us since he joined Angelo State in 2014," Reid said. "We look for him to bring those leadership skills to the entire Rams football team."
Reid and Girsch will be available at a news conference at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5, in the VIP Room of the ASU Junell Center, 2235 S. Jackson St.
Girsch was previously the Rams' defensive coordinator, leading a defensive unit in 2017 that received four Lone Star Conference first-team selections and was ranked second in the conference.
"Jeff Girsch has coached some outstanding athletes to very successful results since he has been here," Reid said. "Experience shows that he knows how to recruit and lead the Rams to a great future."
Angelo State's defense allowed only 22.5 points per game in 2017, holding opposing quarterbacks to 211.6 yards per game and opposing rushers to 136.8 yards. In 2016, Girsch's defense finished first in the Lone Star Conference and fifth in the nation in total defense, scoring defense, sacks, opponents' first downs, and opponents' third down percentage.
Prior to joining Angelo State, Girsch coached at St. Ambrose University for 18 years, his last six as the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach. He was named the Mid-States Football Association's (MSFA) Assistant Football Coach of the Year in 2008.
During his tenure at St. Ambrose, Girsch coached over 50 all-conference players and five All-Americans, and he was a part of seven MSFA Conference Championships. His defense finished in the top 25 in scoring five of his six years as the coordinator, highlighted by a No. 2 finish in 2009 and a No. 5 finish in 2011.
