Robby Long Dismissed; Scott Srnka Named DePauw's Interim Head Football Coach

Robby Long, DePauw University's head football since August 2009, was dismissed today due to his failure to fully comply with the school's policies and administrative expectations. Scott Srnka (pronounced SERN-Kah), who has been serving as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, will lead the Tigers program on an interim basis for the remainder of the season. The University is launching a nationwide search for DePauw's next head football coach.

"This never has been about football," says Stevie Baker-Watson, director of athletics at DePauw. We have been working with Coach Long since spring to resolve several administrative issues under his control. We made this decision to terminate Coach Long's employment because he failed to take corrective actions in a timely manner."

Scott Srnka joined the DePauw staff prior to the 2011 season as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. In his first season, Srnka's defense held opponents to just under 290 total yards per game which ranked 30th in Division III and just 101.9 rushing yards which was 21st in the nation.

Prior to coming to Greencastle, Srnka was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Rhodes College, since 1993. He served as defensive coordinator and coached linebackers, defensive backs and kickers. He also served as head strength and conditioning coach, head men's golf coach and assistant track coach. While at Rhodes, Srnka's defense twice finished the season ranked in the top 25 for fewest total yards allowed including fifth in 2006.

Srnka earned a bachelor of arts degree at Rhodes and majored in art. A four-year starter at strong safety for the Lynx, he was an all-conference selection in his junior and senior seasons. He attended Ohio University where he earned a master of science in health promotion and disease prevention and was a football graduate assistant coach. Upon completion of his degree, Srnka coached at Urbana University as the defensive coordinator for one season. He then moved to Baldwin-Wallace College from 1990-93 where he coached quarterbacks, running backs and kickers. He also was the assistant softball coach.

DePauw begins the search for its next football coach at a time when the University is in the midst of a fundraising campaign which is designed to upgrade Blackstock Stadium, the Lilly Center, and other athletic venues on campus.

A member of the North Coast Athletic Conference, DePauw University has more than 145 years of athletic tradition, with intercollegiate play dating to 1866. They have finished in the top 45 of the Learfield Sports Division III Directors' Cup standings each of the last eight years and have ranked first among Indiana's Division III schools in each year of the program's 17-year existence. Started in Division III in 1995-1996, the Directors' Cup is a program which honors institutions maintaining a broad-based program and achieving success in both men's and women's sports.

DePauw, which played its first intercollegiate football game in 1884, has an all-time record of 544-471-40. The win total is the 17th highest in all of NCAA Division III.