UW Huskies Fire Football Coach Jimmy Lake After Less Than 2 Seasons
Nov 14, 2021, 3:24 PM
Head coach Jimmy Lake of the Washington Huskies looks on during the third quarter against the Oregon Ducks at Husky Stadium on November 06, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
SEATTLE – Six days after UW Huskies head football coach Jimmy Lake was suspended by the school for one game, the university announced Sunday afternoon it has fired him less than two seasons into his tenure.
Though signs had to been pointing all week to Lake’s time with the Huskies coming to an end, the news of his firing first broke from Yahoo Sports college football reporter Pete Thamel just minutes before the Seattle Seahawks, who had a bye last week, kicked off against the Green Bay Packers at 1:25 p.m. Sunday. The university then released a statement confirming Lake’s dismissal at roughly 2 p.m.
Update: Washington has officially announced it has dismissed head football coach Jimmy Lake after less than two seasons at the helm for the UW Huskies.https://t.co/TcvonkbECh
— 710 ESPN Seattle (@710ESPNSeattle) November 14, 2021
Lake was involved in a sideline altercation with a Huskies player in Washington’s 26-16 loss to Oregon on Nov. 6, which resulted in his one-game suspension. It appeared Lake’s right hand hit the facemask of Ruperake Fuavai just after Fuavai had a brief exchange with Oregon players. Lake then followed Fuavai and appeared to push his back.
Though Lake denied striking Fuavai, he released a statement in which he apologized for the incident.
Per Thamel, Washington will not fire Lake “for cause and plans to pay out the remainder of his buyout, which is subject to offset.”
Washington Announces Leadership Change In Footballhttps://t.co/RkkC08Qfjj pic.twitter.com/7FlJnQl5Zf
— Washington Athletics (@UWAthletics) November 14, 2021
Washington lost to Arizona State on Saturday night 35-30 with defensive coordinator Bob Gregory serving as acting head coach. The Huskies are 4-6 this season after going 3-1 in Lake’s first season at the helm in 2020. Lake, previously Washington’s defensive coordinator, replaced Chris Petersen as head coach following the 2019 season when Petersen announced his retirement.
Despite high expectations in 2021, the Huskies have disappointed with pronounced struggles on offense and trouble winning the battle at the line of scrimmage throughout this season.
Prior to Lake’s suspension, he fired offensive coordinator John Donovan on Nov. 7.
Washington has two games remaining this season: next Saturday at Colorado, and the Apple Cup at home against WSU on Friday, Nov. 26.
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