MT. PLEASANT, Mich. -- Central Michigan University announced Thursday morning that Dan Enos has resigned as head football coach to take the offensive coordinator position at the University of Arkansas.
During five seasons with the Chippewas, Enos compiled an overall record of 26-36, including a 7-6 season in 2014 and three straight seasons of bowl eligibility.
"The challenge of winning a championship in the SEC and developing young men at the highest level of college football is very attractive," Enos said in a press release from the Arkansas football program.
Thursday afternoon, CMU Athletic Director Dave Heeke addressed Enos' sudden departure: "We had some conversations about extending his agreement with us,. We made an appropriate offer to Dan, supported by our board of trustees, the president of our university, and myself."
Clearly, that offer was not appropriate enough to Enos, who up until Thursday was one of the lowest paid head football coaches in Division I football. That low pay may have been a determining factor as to why Enos made the decision to accept the offensive coordinator position at Arkansas, which will reportedly pay him almost $200,000 more per season.
"It certainly wasn't the way I thought I would start my day," said Heeke. "Dan and I had some conversations. I was aware of the opportunity that was out there, but coach Enos was under contract with us and my intention was for him to be our football coach going forward."
Now the Chippewas move forward in their third head coaching search in just over a decade. former Michigan coach Brady Hoke and current Ferris State head coach Tony Annese are already rumored to be possible candidates.
"There are a lot of excellent football coaches out there, but it's got to be the right fit for our university and our program and for this time," Heeke said.
While the process is just getting started, it is one that will move quickly as National Signing Day is less than two weeks away.
"The timeline of our search is going to be swift, it's going to be appropriate, we're going to find an outstanding football coach," Heeke said. "That's the most important thing."
