College Football

Jeff Monken named new Army head coach, leaving Georgia Southern

The head coach beat Florida this season while at FCS Georgia Southern.

By Pete Volk@Pete_Volk Updated Dec 24, 2013, 10:03am EST

Update: This is official, Army announced.

Army will hire Georgia Southern head coach Jeff Monken as their new head man, multiple reports say.

Army expected to name Georgia Southern's Jeff Monken next head coach. May not be official until Thursday or Friday, working on contract.
— Sal Interdonato (@salinterdonato) December 22, 2013

Monken was an assistant at Navy under Paul Johnson from 2002-07, and is the cousin of current Southern Mississippi head coach Todd Monken. He followed Johnson to Georgia Tech in 2008, before taking the Georgia Southern job in 2010.

Over four years with the Eagles, Monken posted a 38-16 record, winning double-digit games and making the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs each of his first three seasons. This injury-plagued season was a small step back for the program, as they finished the season 7-4, but they also became the first FCS team to ever defeat Florida.

Monken's offensive gameplan suits Army well, which has run an option-based offense for some time now. The Eagles ran a triple option under Monken, and did not complete a single pass in their defeat of the Gators.

The Black Knights fired head coach Rich Ellerson last week after a 20-41 record over five seasons with the school.