College Football: Massie out at Livingstone

Livingstone Coach Lamonte Massey calling a play. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, Salisbury Post

Livingstone Coach Lamonte Massey calling a play. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, Salisbury Post

By Ronnie Gallagher

rgallagher@salisburypost.com

Livingstone has waved goodbye to its fourth football coach in 11 years.

Lamonte Massie is out early in his third season.

The school sent out a press release Monday stating, "Livingstone College has accepted the request of coach Lamonte Massie, head football coach, to be reassigned to other duties for the remainder of this year."

That's not accurate, according to Massie.

"I have never quit anything in my life," Massie said. "And I never will. I'm the first coach in America to be fired this year."

Assistant head coach Eric Brown has replaced Massie in an interim position. He was with Massie for four years at Edward Waters before joining him the last three at Livingstone.

Massie said he recommended Brown during a meeting with school officials.

"He knows all the aspects of the program," Massie said. "The team is in great hands with Coach Brown."

A national search will be conducted at the conclusion of the 2009 football season, the press release said.

Massie was called in two days after the Blue Bears fell to 0-4 with a 51-0 loss at Bowie State. It was the second straight week Livingstone had lost by that score.

Massie said he was not allowed to talk to his team. The players were told of the decision in a meeting.

He said he did meet with his coaching staff.

"I told them how much I appreciated them," Massie said. "I thought we had assembled the best staff since I've been here. I want them to take advantage of three straight home games."

The homestand begins Saturday when Livingstone plays host to Lincoln (Pa.) at 1 p.m.

Even though the Blue Bears were beaten badly last week, Massie said he still saw improvement. His best example was trailing a ranked Catawba team just 6-0 at halftime the previous week before a lack of depth allowed the Indians to post 45 second-half points.

"We went through injuries," Massie said. "And we turned the ball over too much. But we were working hard. We were on the cusp of showing some promise."

The Blue Bears went 3-21 with Massie as their head coach. They have been outscored 173-19 in four games this season.

Word spread quickly of Massie's dismissal, and Massie said he was already receiving support from many friends and coaching peers. In fact, he said he has already been contacted about possible jobs.

"It's nice to be blessed by people who know when you do things right," he said.

The press release said "Massie will continue to work at Livingstone College in a capacity in which he can continue his contributions to the operation and mission of the Holistic College."

"Coach Massie possesses the qualities that fit with the Holistic College concept, and that is why his services are of value to Livingstone College," Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins Sr., Livingstone's president, said in a statement.

Massie was asked when that reassignment would begin.

"I'm going to take a few days off and watch my son play Pop Warner football in Kannapolis," Massie said. "I'm going to sit in the stands and keep my mouth shut."

Massie was guarded in his comments, saying he didn't want his emotions to get the best of him.

"It was a great opportunity to coach at Livingstone," Massie said. "I wish things could have worked out better.

"It hurts."