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Occidental's Head Football Coach Dismissed
Occidental College head football coach Dale Widolff has been dismissed in the wake of a NCAA investigation into alleged recruiting violations, College officials announced today.
The investigation is the second into Occidental's football program in two years. Widolff was suspended without pay in August 2010 for six weeks for violation of NCAA rules and internal college policies.
"We take violations of the rules very seriously and believe that, however difficult, we have done the right thing," said Occidental College Athletic Director Jaime Hoffman. "Our top priority is to ensure that the future of our student-athletes is not placed in jeopardy."
The NCAA has asked Occidental officials not to discuss the details of the case so as not to jeopardize the investigation, which was set in motion when Hoffman contacted the NCAA on April 17. The 2010 investigation also was the result of self-reporting by the college.
During his 30-year career as Occidental's head coach, Widolff won 11 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles and made seven post-season appearances. His 178 wins ranked him fifth among active NCAA Division III coaches.
Occidental will conduct a national search to find a successor for Widolff. Offensive coordinator Eric Bergstrom will serve as acting head football coach until the search has concluded.