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| Bobby Acosta went 6-4 in his
only season as Widener's head coach. Widener athletics photo |
Widener announced Wednesday that Bobby Acosta has resigned as head football coach to become an assistant coach at a Division I FBS program. Local reports in the area and in Syracuse, N.Y., identify that school as Syracuse.
Acosta is the second Division III head coach that Syracuse has hired in as many days, and the third in the past 13 months. Syracuse hired Joe Adam away from Elmhurst earlier in the week, and hired then-Elmhurst coach Tim Lester in January 2013.
Like Elmhurst, Widener will be on its third coach in three seasons in 2014. Widener athletic director Jack Shafer said a national search will begin immediately to find a replacement. Mark Fetterman, assistant head football coach and defensive coordinator, will assume duties as the interim head coach during the search process.
"I want to thank Bobby Acosta for his service to Widener and wish him the best as he continues his coaching career," Shafer said. "Widener has a long history of head coaches that have had a high level of success on the football field and in developing strong leadership skills in our student athletes. We are dedicated to continuing that tradition."
Acosta became head coach in January 2013 and led the Pride to a 6-4 record in his only season at Widener. The six victories were most for a first-year coach at Widener since Bill Zwaan went 7-3 in 1997.
Fetterman has served as defensive coordinator for the Pride for four seasons. His defense played a huge role in victories over Lebanon Valley and Lycoming in 2012 that helped Widener to the Middle Atlantic Conference title and a trip to the NCAA playoffs.