|
| Chris Sulages led the
Pioneers' rise from a season on hiatus to a 7-2 season six years
later. But Lewis and Clark has gone 1-17 the past two
seasons. Lewis and Clark athletics photo |
Unenviable taskKeith McMillan listed Chris Sulages as having been put in one of the 10 least-enviable positions of the decade in a 2009 Around the Nation column: |
9. Chris
Sulages. ATN has always loved that Lewis &
Clark didn’t abandon its program when it fell on hard times,
especially since the Northwest Conference school has such an
athletic history. But just because the Pios didn’t fold the
tent after canceling its NWC slate in a four-game 2005
doesn’t mean it’s been easy going. In the three seasons
since, L&C is 1-27, 0-18 in the conference. A 22-7 loss to
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the opener looks like a sign of
improvement – the Pios gave up at least 40 in all eight
losses last season. It takes great patience to see the light at the
end of the tunnel in the midst of all that losing. |
Lewis and Clark football coach Chris Sulages has resigned, athletic director Shana Levine announced Wednesday.
Sulages, who took over the program in 2006, a year after the program shut down early in the season because of low roster size, compiled a 19-62 mark in nine seasons as head coach. Including the program’s failure to complete the 2005 season, the program lost 27 consecutive games. However, Sulages, with the help of quarterback Keith Welch, built the Pioneers into a program that went 15-12 over a three-year period. He was named D3football.com Coach of the Year in 2011 when the squad went 7-2, 4-2 in the Northwest Conference.
"I would like to thank Lewis and Clark College for the opportunity to lead the football program for the last nine years. We did some great things that had never before happened on Palatine Hill. I am proud I will leave this program in much better shape than I received it," said Sulages.
"Most importantly I would like to thank the football student-athletes that I have had the pleasure to coach and my assistants for their hard work and dedication to the team, program, and myself. In addition, I would also like to thank the alumni and parents who I have been lucky to work with. These groups of people are the most genuine one could wish for, and the strength of Lewis and Clark. I wish the football program, athletics, and the college the best of luck in the future."
"I want to thank Chris for his years of dedication to our students, the Lewis and Clark football program, the athletics department, and our community. Our student-athletes have benefited from his leadership, and we wish him well in his future endeavors," said Levine.
Sulages has been a member of the Pioneers staff since 2003.
Welch was the Pioneers' all-time leader in total offense, passing yards, complete passes, and touchdown passes and also has the distinction of being the only Pioneer to be named a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy. Andrew Frisina was the nation's top receiver statistically in 2013.
A national search for Lewis and Clark's next head football coach will begin immediately.