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When news broke out that Eastern Michigan hired Chris Creighton to be the new football coach, I had the same reaction as probably all, if not, most of you: "who the hell is that?"
For starters, his most recently the head coach for FCS school Drake University. Yes, Drake. We'll get to those crappy puns later, this is serious business right now. Five years as the Bulldogs' head coach, Creighton posted an overall 38-17 record. He's the seventh coach in Drake's history to win at least 40 games and the fastest to do so.
44 years old, Creighton has been the offensive coordinator for Concordia University in Illinois (1991-1992) and Manchester University in Indiana (1993-1996). He's also been the head coach for Ottawa University in Kansas (1997-2000) and Wabash College (2001-2007). Overall, he has a 139-46 head coaching record (63 wins at Wabash and 32 wins at Ottawa).
"I want to sincerely thank Heather Lyke, President Martin and the Board of Regents," Creighton said in an official press release, "for entrusting me with the leadership of the Eastern Michigan University football program. It is both a huge opportunity and responsibility and I am fired up about it. My vision is to make playing football at Eastern Michigan one of the most incredible experiences of our players lives. I cannot wait to meet the team and start a new journey with them."
Lyke, EMU's Athletic Director, had some very nice things to say about him as well. "In Chris, Eastern Michigan will find an extraordinary leader who will be a great ambassador for our University," Lyke said in the press release. "Chris' focus on positively impacting hte lives of our student-athletes and building a championship program was the most impressive. As a proven winner and head coach, Chris' experience with creating and sustaining success will inspire our student-athletes to elevate our football program to a championship level."
17 years as a head coach at three different programs, Creighton has won eight conference titles. In this passed season, Drake finished with a 6-5 record for their 10th straight winning season with ten players earning spots on the Academic All-Pioneer Football League honors.
There will be a press conference inside the atrium of the Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Mich. on Thursday December 12 at 3 p.m. to introduce the new coach.
Oh yeah, crappy Drake puns. Right.
