Bill Lynch, associate athletic director for development, is resigning his position at Butler to become DePauw’s new football coach.
Stevie Baker-Watson, DePauw’s athletic director, announced today that Lynch has been named as the next head coach.
“Through a comprehensive and thorough search process which yielded a strong pool of candidates, we’re excited to have someone with Bill’s experience and passion to lead our football program,” said Baker-Watson in a DePauw press release. “Bill is well known and respected in Indiana and the Midwest and understands the long, rich tradition of the DePauw football program.”
DePauw fired coach Robby Long last fall, two games into the season, for “failure to fully comply with the school’s policies and expectations.”
At that time assistant coach Scott Srnka was appointed as the interim head coach.
There were many rumors circling Greencastle as to who would replace Long. Current Butler coach Jeff Voris was mentioned as well as Lynch. Ken Owen, DePauw executive director of media relations mentioned Lynch in a local radio interview, but later clarified that it did not mean he was a potential candidate.
“The years ahead present an exciting opportunity and I can’t wait to work with a great group of student-athletes, an outstanding athletics department and a supportive administration,” said Lynch. “DePauw is a special place and the time I spent here was a highlight of my coaching career.”
Lynch has been the associate athletic director for development at Butler since 2011. In that role he has overseen annual giving, served as a major gift officer and was also the sport administrator for the football program.
Prior to that the 1977 Butler graduate served as the football coach at Indiana, Butler and also spent a season at DePauw.
In December 2003, Lynch was named DePauw’s head football coach, succeeding Nick Mourouzis who coached the Tigers for the previous 23 years. Lynch led the Tigers to an 8-2 record in 2004 including a 14-7 victory over Wabash in the Monon Bell game. He was named the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Co-Coach of the Year and was the first football coach in SCAC history to earn the honor in his initial season.
DePauw Junior captain Patrick Keller was among the student-athletes who met with Lynch during the interview process.
“Coach Lynch’s experience and commitment to success were apparent during our meeting,” Keller said. “This is an important time for the DePauw football program and we can’t wait to start working towards moving the program forward.”
Overall Lynch has coached 32 years in college football. He is 100-97-3 overall as a head coach, including a 44-14-3 mark in six seasons with Butler and DePauw.
Lynch will start at DePauw on Jan. 2.
