Former Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo told ESPN on Monday he was sitting by himself at his locker following the Midshipmen’s 20-17 double-overtime loss to rival Army in Philadelphia on Saturday when athletic director Chet Gladchuk walked in and fired him.
“First of all, we just got kicked in the gut,” Niumatalolo said. “I was a little bit numb prior to him saying that, so most of it I couldn’t comprehend. I’m just like, ‘Chet, why don’t you take some time to relax.’ He said, ‘Well, it’s been building up.'”
The two shared vastly different perspectives on a coaching change at a program that isn’t trying to reach the College Football Playoff but annually captures the nation’s attention with the pageantry and tradition of the Army-Navy game. Niumatalolo, the winningest coach in program history at 109-83, earned a reputation for graduating his players, his honest approach and avoiding NCAA infractions, and while Gladchuk praised him for the lasting impact he has had on the Midshipmen, he said the goals are winning the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy and earning bowl eligibility.
“That’s been the constant bar we strive for, is to achieve those two goals, which I believe are very realistic, very reasonable and have been consistent for 20 years and therefore this does not come as any surprise,” Gladchuk said. “It’s just an expectation that unfortunately fell short.”
Gladchuk said “without any question of a doubt” the expectations were communicated to Niumatalolo before the season.