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The East Carolina Pirates have reassigned defensive coordinator Kenwick Thompson, according to a release by the school. Unfortunately for the coach, the term “reassignment” here isn't similar to how it is used in MLB. This is not him being sent to Triple-A baseball, but getting demoted.
That's just another really polite way of saying East Carolina will keep him on staff, but are blaming him for the team's defensive woes.
Nothing like a little early September throwing under the bus!
“While these decisions are difficult to make, both from a timing and personal standpoint, my responsibility is to sustain the best interest for our program,” head coach Scottie Montgomery said in a statement. ” We appreciate Coach Thompson’s efforts, but I feel a change in direction is needed at this time.”
This was likely a sincere statement, as Thompson had been on Montgomery’s staff since Montgomery was hired away from Duke in December of 2015.
Associate head coach/defensive line coach Robert Prunty will take over defensive play-calling duties, at least for the time being. Prunty is in his first season on the East Carolina staff after serving as co-defensive coordinator at Cincinnati for the past three seasons.
The program is off to a woeful 0-2 start to the season. What is notable about this start is the Pirates falling 34-14 to defending FCS champion James Madison in the opener, then 56-20 to West Virginia on Saturday. Those aren't two great games to start the season.
The Pirates rank 129th nationally in total defense (616.5 yards per game) and yards per play (8.39) and 126th in scoring (45 points per game).
