Earlham coach steps down after second 0-10 season

Gerry Keesling was Earlham's head coach in 2002 and from 2004-11. Earlham photo by Tom Strickland

Earlham will have a new head football coach next fall as Gerry Keesling submitted his resignation on late Monday night.

Keesling has been a coach for the Quakers since 1991, while serving the last eight years in charge of the program.

Earlham went 0-10 each of the past two seasons, 0-8 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. When the school announced it was moving from the North Coast Athletic Conference to the HCAC, the school's president said it was with the goal of winning half its games every season. Since then, the men's basketball, women's basketball and football coaches have each lost their jobs. The basketball and football teams went a combined 2-58 last season and are 0-16 so far this eason.

Including an interim season in 2002, the 1982 Earlham graduate was 24-66 during his tenure. He returned as coach in 2004.

"We appreciate the contributions Gerry Keesling has made to Earlham College and his commitment to the football program as a player and a long-time member of our coaching staff," said Earlham athletic director Frank Carr.

"Earlham is grateful for the eight years that Gerry Keesling has served as head football coach and for the ways in which he has had a positive impact on the lives of many student-athletes," Carr added. "We wish Gerry all the best as he moves forward into the next phase of his professional and personal life."

Earlham was 5-5 in 2009 as the Quakers played their final year in the North Coast Athletic Conference with a 3-4 mark. In 2008, Earlham was 4-6 overall and posted a 4-3 record in the NCAC as the Quakers finished third in the league.

After joining the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference prior to the 2010 season, the Quakers finished 0-10 overall and 0-8 in the league the past two years.
 
A national search for Keesling's replacement will begin immediately, but a timeline has not been established to hire a new coach.

Assistant coaches Matt Macy and Nick Johnson will handle the program's administrative duties while the search for a new head coach takes place. Johnson is also Earlham's co-head track coach.