Brady Hoke resigned his position as Ball State University's head football coach to become the next head coach at San Diego State University, according to a press release the university sent Monday night.
In a statement, Ball State President Jo Ann Gora vowed she and athletics director Tom Collins did everything possible to keep Hoke with the university. Gora and Collins offered a base salary of $390,000, which would have made Hoke the highest-paid member in the university by more than $30,000. The offer included up to $60,000 in performance incentives in the Mid-American Conference and up to $255,00 in the BCS.
Gora stated it was impossible for Ball State to compete with the offer Hoke received from San Diego State.
"None of us wanted to see him go," Gora stated in the release. "When coach Hoke told me San Diego State had offered him a guaranteed package of $3.5 million over five years, I knew we had done all we could to keep him. In these economic times, we simply cannot reasonably match such a generous offer."
A call put into Hoke and his agent, Trace Armstrong, have been unreturned as of 8 p.m.
Gora has not responded to an e-mail requesting an interview, and Collins has not to return a message left on his cell phone.
Hoke leaves Ball State after posting a 34-38 record in six seasons. In the past two years, however, he led the Cardinals to a 19-7 record, two West Division titles and the first back-to-back bowl appearances in the program's 84-year history.
"Coach Hoke had a tremendous amount of success as our head football coach," Collins said in the release. "His offer at San Diego State is a testament to that success."
The release hinted that Hoke will not coach Ball State's final game of the year.
"Arrangements on who will coach the Cardinals in the Jan. 6, GMAC Bowl are still being made," the release stated.
Collins stated the search for the Cardinals next head coach will begin immediately.
"We have a great football program with great fans, and we are confident we will find a quality coach to take over," Collins stated. "A priority will be to ensure continuity and stability for the student-athletes."
With Hoke's departure, the chances of Ball State's quarterback Nate Davis staying with the Cardinals for a senior season significantly decrease. Nate Davis' older brother, Jose Davis, said he expects the junior to be the third quarterback taken in this year's NFL Draft if he decides to jump to the NFL.
"I think there's a 95 percent change he goes [to the NFL] now," Jose Davis said.
Hoke was one of 18 coaches in the nation that spent this season at his alma mater. He also played on Ball State's only other 10-win team in 1978.
Finishing his statement in the release, Collins gave his best wishes to Hoke and his family.
"We know this has been a difficult decision for Coach Hoke," Collins said. "As Ball State alumni, Brady and his wife, Laura, along with their daughter, Kelly, will always be Cardinals. We wish Coach Hoke and his family well as they take on this new challenge."
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