Samford Fires Chris Hatcher After 11 Seasons in Sunday Announcement

Samford University announced Sunday that it had relieved Chris Hatcher of his duties as head football coach, ending an 11-season run that produced the most wins in program history but left the Bulldogs floundering this year. Athletic vice president Martin Newton framed the move as a response to recent results while acknowledging Hatcher’s broader contributions to the program.

"Coach Hatcher has always represented the university and our football program with dignity and class. We've enjoyed some incredible moments together with our success on the field and in the classroom. However, the results on the field the last few seasons have not met our expectations, and it's time to go in a different direction. I wish Chris and his family all the best moving forward and know the Bulldog family is appreciative of all his hard work."

The decision followed a 38-14 home loss to East Tennessee State that extended Samford’s losing streak to three games and came amid a 1-9 overall mark and a 1-7 Southern Conference record for the 2025 season. With two regular-season games remaining, a matchup with Austin Peay and a trip to No. 1 Texas A&M on Nov. 22, the program now faces immediate roster, recruiting and preparation questions with an interim staff in place.

Across 11 seasons at Samford, Hatcher compiled a 62-59 record and built the program into a Southern Conference contender, including an 11-2 SoCon championship season in 2022 that reached the Division I quarterfinals. That campaign earned him SoCon Coach of the Year honors and AFCA Region 2 Coach of the Year recognition. Hatcher’s broader coaching resume includes a standout run at Valdosta State, where he went 76-12 and won the 2004 Division II national championship, plus head-coaching stints at Georgia Southern and Murray State that contribute to a 183-116 career head-coaching record.

Sources indicate a quick administrative response: Sports Illustrated reported that defensive coordinator Scot Sloan was named interim head coach on Monday, though earlier reports had said an interim would be named at a later time. Local reporting has also noted that Samford’s game against Austin Peay carries a 1 p.m. kickoff, with some outlets listing it as an away game in Clarksville, Tenn. Those scheduling and procedural details will matter as the Bulldogs try to steady a locker room heading into the season’s final stretch.

Fan boards reacted immediately with a mix of resignation and roster-minded optimism. One longtime poster wrote, "I think this was inevitable but I am super surprised to see it happens before the season is over." Other threads have floated potential targets such as John Glass and Mickey Conn, though those names remain unverified rumors.

For Samford, the firing closes a chapter defined by high-water marks and recent decline. The program must now balance honoring Hatcher’s legacy and playoff runs with an urgent need to arrest recruiting losses, stabilize the staff and define a next-door coaching profile that can compete in the SoCon and in the transfer portal era. Next steps include confirmation of the interim coach’s full staff, clarity on remaining game logistics, and the start of what promises to be a national search for a permanent replacement.