College Football

Carl Pelini left FAU due to more than just drugs, AD tells CBS

Additional university rules violations were a factor in Pelini's resignation. What those violations were, we don't know.

By Steven Muma@akulawolf Oct 31, 2013, 1:13pm EDT

There was more behind Carl Pelini's decision to resign as FAU's head coach Wednesday than reports of drug use, athletics director Pat Chun said. Chun told CBS Sports there were "other violations of university rules," though he would not go into specifics.

Pelini and defensive coordinator Pete Rekstis tendered resignations after being confronted by Chun about their drug use. Offensive coordinator Brian Wright will serve as the interim head coach for the rest of the 2013 season while the school begins to sort out possible head coaching candidates.

Wright and the other members of the coaching staff will remain employed by FAU, at least for the rest of this season. The new head coach will probably want to assemble his own staff, assuming the Owls make an outside hire rather than promoting Wright.

Several potential candidates already have emerged, including Alabama assistant Mario Cristobal and Miami offensive coordinator James Coley. Along with others on the list, those two have extensive experience coaching in the state of Florida.