Georgia Tech pursuing Johnson (Annapolis Capital)

[GreatAmerican]

<p>News conference planned for this afternoon to announce the move</p>

<p>[Navy</a> names Niumatalolo as Johnson’s successor – baltimoresun.com](<a href=“http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/football/bal-navy1208,0,5792686.story]Navy”>http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/football/bal-navy1208,0,5792686.story)</p>

<p>

The U.S. Naval Academy didn’t look very long – or very far – to find Paul Johnson’s successor.</p>

<p>One day after Johnson told his players and academy officials that he was leaving Annapolis after six seasons for Georgia Tech, athletic director Chet Gladchuk announced that assistant head coach Ken Niumatalolo would be promoted.</p>

<p>A news conference is scheduled for this afternoon to announce the move…

</p>

[GreatAmerican]

<p>[Navy’s</a> Johnson sets sail<em>-</em>-*The Washington Times, America’s Newspaper](<a href=“http://washingtontimes.com/article/20071208/SPORTS/112080063/1005/sports]Navy’s”>http://washingtontimes.com/article/20071208/SPORTS/112080063/1005/sports)</p>

<p>

Paul Johnson accepted the head coaching job at Georgia Tech yesterday, leaving Navy after six seasons during which he rebuilt the program.</p>

<p>He replaces Chan Gailey, who was fired Nov. 26.</p>

<p>“I do not think there is another program I would have left the Naval Academy for,” Johnson said at a press conference introducing him as the Yellow Jackets’ new coach. “When we coach, we search for a school or football program that you can compete on a national level for championships, and certainly I feel that way about Georgia Tech.”…

</p>

[GreatAmerican]

<p>[National</a> title aspirations lured Paul Johnson away from Navy - Navy Sports - (HometownAnnapolis.com)](<a href=“http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/12_08-19/NAS]National”>http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/12_08-19/NAS)</p>

<p>

Ultimately, the opportunity to lead a top-tier program in a Bowl Championship Series conference was too good for Paul Johnson to pass up.</p>

<p>Mr. Johnson announced his resignation as head football coach at the Naval Academy yesterday in order to accept the same position at Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference, which has an automatic berth in the Bowl Championship Series that determines the national champion of college football.</p>

<p>“I think if you’re going to be in this profession and doing anything … a goal of mine is to try and win a national championship,” Mr. Johnson told The Capital soon after yesterday’s announcement. “I’ve had a zillion opportunities to leave here, but I didn’t want to go somewhere where I didn’t think you had a chance to play for championships. I think at this program (Georgia Tech) you do.”…

</p>

[GreatAmerican]

<p>Ex-Navy coach signs 7-year deal worth more than $11 million</p>

<p>[Johnson</a> introduced as Tech coach | ajc.com](<a href=“http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/gatech/stories/2007/12/07/gtfoot_1208.html?imw=Y]Johnson”>http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/gatech/stories/2007/12/07/gtfoot_1208.html?imw=Y)</p>

<p>

Tech football history.</p>

<p>Tech hired a new coach who promises to pump new competitiveness into the state’s biggest rivalry and take the Yellow Jackets to championship heights.</p>

<p>the Bobby Dodd Stadium seats by winning, against Georgia and against whomever else comes to play…

</p>

[GreatAmerican]

<p>For Immediate Release
Sent Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007
Contact Justin Kischefsky (410) 293-8772</p>

<p>Niumatalolo Press Conference to be Available on Navy’s Web Site</p>

<p>ANNAPOLIS, Md. – A taped delayed audio and video stream of today’s press conference announcing Ken Niumatalolo as Navy’s new head football coach will be available on [NavySports.com</a> - Official Athletic Site for Navy Athletics](<a href=“http://www.navysports.com%5DNavySports.com”>http://www.navysports.com) starting at 5 p.m. Saturday. The coverage will be available free of charge to all fans.</p>

[GreatAmerican]

<p>Niumatalolo Takes Reins of Football Team</p>

<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/08/AR2007120801897.html]washingtonpost.com[/url”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/08/AR2007120801897.html]washingtonpost.com[/url</a>]</p>

<p>

Navy wasted no time filling the vacancy created by Friday’s departure of football coach Paul Johnson for Georgia Tech. Yesterday, the academy announced the promotion of Ken Niumatalolo, Johnson’s longtime assistant. </p>

<p>Niumatalolo and Athletic Director Chet Gladchuk met for five hours Friday night, and Gladchuk said the quick decision came in part to assuage uncertainty from Navy’s assistant coaches, players, fans, recruits and those at the Naval Academy Prep School.</p>

<p>Gladchuk also said “a majority” of the current assistant coaches will stay; the staff is expected to be completed in the next few days…

</p>

[GreatAmerican]

<p>Longtime assistant succeeds Johnson, signs 5-year deal</p>

<p>[Navy</a> quickly promotes Niumatalolo to coach – baltimoresun.com](<a href=“http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/football/bal-sp.navy09dec09,0,3433518.story]Navy”>http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/football/bal-sp.navy09dec09,0,3433518.story)</p>

<p>

Shortly after Navy finished the regular season with what has become its annual victory over Army on Dec. 1 at M&T Bank Stadium, athletic director Chet Gladchuk tapped assistant head coach Ken Niumatalolo on the shoulder.</p>

<p>“I said, ‘If anything comes about, I want to talk to you; let’s get together,’” Gladchuk said yesterday. “At that point, I wasn’t sure if something was going to happen. But it did.”</p>

<p>Shortly after Paul Johnson announced Friday that he was leaving Navy to become the coach at Georgia Tech, Gladchuk called Niumatalolo back from a recruiting trip and, in a literal sense, tapped him on the shoulder again…

</p>

[GreatAmerican]

<p>[Navy</a> quickly hires its in-house option - - The Washington Times, America’s Newspaper](<a href=“http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071209/SPORTS/112090057/1005]Navy”>http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071209/SPORTS/112090057/1005)</p>

<p>

It didn’t take long for Navy to find a new coach.</p>

<p>Less than 24 hours after Paul Johnson left for the coaching job at Georgia Tech, Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk gave assistant head coach Ken Niumatalolo the head post.</p>

<p>Johnson announced his departure Friday morning, and Gladchuk said he and Niumatalolo met for five hours later that night. The two discussed the future of the program, and Gladchuk said it became apparent to him Johnson’s successor was sitting right there…

</p>

[GreatAmerican]

<p>[starbulletin.com</a> | Sports | /2007/12/09/](<a href=“http://starbulletin.com/2007/12/09/sports/story03.html]starbulletin.com”>http://starbulletin.com/2007/12/09/sports/story03.html)</p>

<p>

For nearly 10 seasons, his name was the one that gave national broadcasters the most problems when Navy football was on TV. </p>

<p>Assistant coach Ken Niumatalolo gave up that distinction two years ago, with sportscasters mangling the name of the Midshipmen’s quarterback, Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada (Kapolei '05). Most have learned to shorten it to “Kaipo.”</p>

<p>Beginning with the Dec. 20 Poinsettia Bowl, Niumatalolo’s name can be shortened to “Coach.”…

</p>

[JackTraveler]

<p>At least he’s going to Georgia. That’s all I can say.</p>

[GreatAmerican]

<p>[Niumatalolo</a> named new Navy coach - Examiner.com](<a href=“StockExaminer - AI-Powered Stock Chatbot”>StockExaminer - AI-Powered Stock Chatbot)</p>

<p>

Navy did not have to look long — or far — in its search for a new head football coach.</p>

<p>With the Midshipmen preparing for a game on Dec. 20 against Utah in the Poinsettia Bowl, they no longer have to worry about the team’s coaching future as Navy named longtime assistant coach Ken Niumatalolo as the program’s 38th head coach on Saturday.</p>

<p>Niumatalolo’s promotion came one day after Paul Johnson resigned to take the head coaching position at Georgia Tech after going 45-29 during six season in Annapolis…

</p>

[GreatAmerican]

<p>[Sports</a> Comment: Niumatalolo right choice for continuity - Navy Sports - (HometownAnnapolis.com)](<a href=“Real Estate – Capital Gazette”>Real Estate – Capital Gazette)</p>

<p>

It’s a tradition for the head coach of Navy football to speak at the annual membership cocktail party held by the Touchdown Club of Annapolis in advance of the Army-Navy game. Due to a scheduling conflict, Paul Johnson could not make the event in 2005.</p>

<p>Assistant head coach Ken Niumatalolo filled in for Johnson and spoke confidently and eloquently as he discussed the season to date and the upcoming showdown with Army. Naval Academy athletic director Chet Gladchuk was in attendance that night and it may have been the moment when he realized Niumatalolo had what it took to be a head coach…

</p>

[GreatAmerican]

<p>Green, Jasper - All In</p>

<p>Newly-named Naval Academy head coach Ken Niumatalolo confirmed following practice this morning that Ivin Jasper and Buddy Green have agreed in principle to remain on staff.</p>

<p>Green will retain his role as defensive coordinator while Jasper has been promoted to offensive coordinator. Niumatalolo said sports information director Scott Strasemeier will by sending out a press release about the coaching hires within the next day.</p>

<p>“I’m sure Scott will have something coming up, but the thing that I’m excited about is that our two core guys are coming back - Ivin and Buddy,” Niumatalolo said.</p>

<p>Congratulations Zerb</p>

<p>Navy sports information director Scott Strasemeier sent out a press release this morning that made my day.</p>

<p>Zerb Singleton has been named overall winner of the FedEx Orange Bowl Courage Award. I cannot imagine another football player in the entire more deserving of this tremendous honor than Zerb. He is a consummate team player and a leader among leaders at the Naval Academy.</p>

<p>Here is the link to the press release posted on the Navy website: [Singleton</a> Wins 2007 FedEx Orange Bowl Courage Award :: He will be presented the award at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 3](<a href=“http://navysports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121007aaa.html]Singleton”>http://navysports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121007aaa.html)</p>

[GreatAmerican]

<p>Niumatalolo’s wait is over as he takes charge of Navy</p>

<p>By Ferd Lewis </p>

<p>When acquaintances from La’ie spied him lugging bag after bag to the University of Hawai’i football team’s bus following a loss at Brigham Young in 1991, they hooted and razzed Ken Niumatalolo.</p>

<p>So much for getting your foot in the door of the coaching profession, they snickered. </p>

<p>Nothing that probably hadn’t crossed his own mind when, as a 26-year-old graduate assistant with a family, Niumatalolo found himself delivering boxes of chicken to the video crew, dropping off the assistant coaches’ children at school in the morning or hauling the head coach’s exercise bike to the team hotel. </p>

<p>But the payoff on those </p>

[GreatAmerican]

<p>Niumatalolo supervises first practice</p>

<p>[Mids</a>’ coach switch ‘an easy change’ – baltimoresun.com](<a href=“http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/football/bal-sp.navyfoot11dec11,0,2286059.story]Mids”>http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/football/bal-sp.navyfoot11dec11,0,2286059.story)</p>

<p>

Navy quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada looked around him. All of the sturdy Naval Academy buildings were still standing. The Chesapeake Bay was still lapping at the shore near the football field. His teammates were still all present and accounted for.</p>

<p>The only major difference was that former assistant head coach Ken Niumatalolo was calling the shots as head coach now that Paul Johnson has departed for Georgia Tech.</p>

<p>“It’s an easy change,” said Kaheaku-Enhada, a junior. “Coach had a meeting this morning to remind us where we came from and who we are. We still play for each other.”…

</p>

[bz2010]

<p>[YouTube</a> - Navy Football 2007 - Let’s See How Far We’ve Come](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJeN3I8vYSc]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJeN3I8vYSc)</p>

[hops_scout]

<p>I think it’s a shame that Paul Johnson will not be coaching Navy in the bowl game. There are many other coaches who will be coaching their teams in bowl games even though they have taken other jobs for the next season or have retired like Carr at Michigan.</p>

<p>Depending on Navy’s schedule, they could easily pick up Georgia Tech. Army has dropped GT from their schedule for the 2008 season.</p>

[USNA_Dad_amp_Grad]

<p>Well, it’s been debated ad nauseam on other sites, but this time of year the recruiting merry go round is in full swing, and there is no time to waste, so PJ has to move on to his new job. Several “commits” to GaTech have decided to uncommit because of PJ’s offense as well.</p>

<p>It’s also good for closure for all of us “super invested” Navy Football fans who sweated his possible leaving all season. Having Ken Niumatalolo coaching the team should give us an idea of what next year is like. All in all, it’s a good thing for everyone - especially the team and the Mids.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t want to see Georgia Tech on our schedule anytime soon - at least not while PJ is there. I’m betting that he will be challenging the traditional ACC Coastal powers like Virginia Tech, Miami and FSU for a top spot within two or three years. Of course, all any GT alum cares about is beating Georgia, and that will be a lot more likely with PJ at the helm.</p>

<p>I’m just hoping that the momentum PJ began and sustained keeps up and we don’t have to wait 20 more years between solid Navy teams like we did after George Welsh left in '81. The 80’s and 90’s were doldrum years for Navy Football.</p>