Operation Sports Forums - View Single Post - Coach Hawkins' Journey to the Top: Volume I

jpfine · 03-27-2019, 10:02 PM

Elon's Brian Hawkins accepts job at East Carolina

Corey James, The Greenville News Published 4:26 p.m. ET June 4, 2018

After roughly two months without a head coach for the football program, East Carolina's athletic director, Jon Gilbert, has announced that Brian Hawkins, the offensive coordinator for the Elon Phoenix, will be taking the helm of the ECU football team.

"I'm really excited for what Brian can bring to the table," said Gilbert. "He led Mercer to three straight appearances in the FCS playoffs as a head coach, so we're hoping that he can do the same here. When we first met him for the preliminary interviews a month or so ago, I had a gut feeling that we would end up coming back to him and talking more to Brian. Fortunately, I've been able to grow my trust in him and I believe he's the person to take us all the way to Tier 1."

Hawkins graduated from Campbell University in 2001 and immediately joined the team as a graduate assistant to the wide receiver coach. He became the wide receiver coach in 2005 and he became the offensive coordinator of Mercer University for the 2010 season. Hawkins was offered the head coach job for the Bears after the 2011 season and stayed until the 2014 season. Then, Hawkins was the offensive coordinator for the Elon Phoenix up until this afternoon.

When we got a chance to get on a call with him, Hawkins said, "...I'm excited to be the coach for the Pirates and I know that I'll be able to turn this team around. Obviously, it's going to be an adjustment for me to coach at the FBS level because I've only coached at the FCS level, so the Pirate Nation will have to bear with me for the first season as I get it all sorted out. Mark my words, though, I will lead this team to the promised land."

Bold words for the newly hired coach. We'll have to see how he does and if he can back up these strong words.

03-27-2019, 10:02 PM	#11
jpfine Pro OVR: 0 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Indianapolis, IN Blog Entries: 1	Elon's Brian Hawkins accepts job at East Carolina Corey James, The Greenville News Published 4:26 p.m. ET June 4, 2018 After roughly two months without a head coach for the football program, East Carolina's athletic director, Jon Gilbert, has announced that Brian Hawkins, the offensive coordinator for the Elon Phoenix, will be taking the helm of the ECU football team. "I'm really excited for what Brian can bring to the table," said Gilbert. "He led Mercer to three straight appearances in the FCS playoffs as a head coach, so we're hoping that he can do the same here. When we first met him for the preliminary interviews a month or so ago, I had a gut feeling that we would end up coming back to him and talking more to Brian. Fortunately, I've been able to grow my trust in him and I believe he's the person to take us all the way to Tier 1." Hawkins graduated from Campbell University in 2001 and immediately joined the team as a graduate assistant to the wide receiver coach. He became the wide receiver coach in 2005 and he became the offensive coordinator of Mercer University for the 2010 season. Hawkins was offered the head coach job for the Bears after the 2011 season and stayed until the 2014 season. Then, Hawkins was the offensive coordinator for the Elon Phoenix up until this afternoon. When we got a chance to get on a call with him, Hawkins said, "...I'm excited to be the coach for the Pirates and I know that I'll be able to turn this team around. Obviously, it's going to be an adjustment for me to coach at the FBS level because I've only coached at the FCS level, so the Pirate Nation will have to bear with me for the first season as I get it all sorted out. Mark my words, though, I will lead this team to the promised land." Bold words for the newly hired coach. We'll have to see how he does and if he can back up these strong words.