Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt's football coach retired: Latest news

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henry

15 July, 2010

Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt's football coach retired on Wednesday, July 14. 'I've decided to retire, not resign,' Johnson said.

BOBBY JOHNSON, Vanderbilt's football coach retired on Wednesday, July 14. "I've decided to retire, not resign," Johnson said.

"I will not be coaching the Commodores in the 2010 season. It is a tough decision with which my wife Catherine and I struggle. This is a personal decision. It's about what we want to do with our lives."

Johnson, 59, went 29-66 in eight seasons, coaching the Commodores to a Music City Bowl victory in 2008. Offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell will be the interim coach. Johnson's retirement will be effective by the end of July.

"This is a sad day, but a happy time for me," Caldwell said. "I've worked a long time to work as a loyal assistant. College football is losing a great man today."

Vice Chancellor David Williams said he was shocked when he learned of Johnson's decision. "We love Bobby Johnson," Williams said. “Bobby Johnson is my football coach. I tried to talk him out of it yesterday. I tried to talk him out of it last night. I tried to talk him out of it this morning. It is a personal decision. We at Vanderbilt wish that wasn't his decision, but we respect his decision."

Last season, Vanderbilt was 2-10 overall and 0-8 in the SEC. Johnson had become just the third coach in Vanderbilt history to hold the job for at least eight years, joining Dan McGugin and Art Guepe.