BREAKING NEWS: RMU head football coach Banaszak resigns

Photo+credit%3A+Samuel+Anthony

Photo credit: Samuel Anthony

Samuel Anthony, @Sentry_Anthony

Effective immediately, Robert Morris University head football coach John Banaszak has resigned from his position with the team.

In a press release sent out by university officials Monday morning, Athletic Director Dr. Craig Coleman made the announcement that Banaszak would no longer be with the team.

Since taking over as head coach in December of 2013, Banaszak has amounted a 9-35 record in his four years with the team.

The team finished their 2017 season with a 42-14 loss at the hands of the NEC champions Central Connecticut State Blue Devils, who finished their season 6-0 in the NEC while Robert Morris ended their season with their first winless season in conference play for the first time ever.

The team lost its final eight games after starting the season 2-1, including a win against the Dayton Flyers for the first time in 17 years.

In his four seasons as head coach, Banaszak never finished with a winning record and did not post a win total higher than four in a single season.

Before taking over as head coach, Banaszak also spent 11 seasons as an assistant coach under legendary head coach Joe Walton.

During his tenure, the team displayed some of the best defense and special teams play in the nation. But Banaszak’s struggle to find any sort of consistency on offense made wins hard to come by.

Banaszak was signed to a one-year extension at the end of last season after injuries plagued the final season of Banaszak’s original contract.

“I’d like to thank Coach Banaszak for his many years of service to Robert Morris University and our athletic department,” said Coleman. “He has been a true professional throughout his tenure. I want to wish Coach Banaszak and his family nothing but the best. We will now conduct a national search for our next head football coach as we strive to excel in the sport of football.”

Robert Morris will now begin their search for the third coach in the history of RMU football.