Ball State coach Hoke resigns

Dec 15, 2008 - 11:50 PM MUNCIE, Indiana (Ticker) -- Brady Hoke on Monday resigned as Ball State's football coach, rejecting a contract offer that would have made him the school's highest-paid employee.

Hoke, who guided Ball State to a 12-0 regular-season record, reportedly has agreed to take the job at San Diego State, although the Aztecs have made no official announcement.

Ball State president Jo Ann Gora said her school could not match San Diego State's offer.

"When Coach Hoke told me that San Diego State had offered him a guaranteed package of $3.5 million over five years, I knew we had done all we could to keep him," Gora said. "In these economic times, we simply cannot reasonably match such a generous offer."

Ball State offered Hoke a base compensation package of $390,000, plus $60,000 in Mid-American Conference performance incentives and up to $255,000 in BCS and national incentives.

The Cardinals, who lost to Buffalo, 42-24, in the MAC championship game, will face Tulsa in the GMAC Bowl on January 6.

"Ball State football is 12-1 and heading to a second straight bowl for the first time in school history," Gora added. "Unfortunately, the recognition that comes with such success made Coach Hoke highly attractive in other programs."

San Diego State, however, is hardly a nationally recognized program, and the Aztecs have not had a winning season since 1998.

Hoke would replace Chuck Long, who was fired after posting a three-year record of 9-27. The Aztecs were 2-10 this year, the first 10-loss season in school history.

Hoke posted a 32-38 record in his sixth seasons at Ball State, which cracked the top 25 this season for the first time in school history. The Cardinals were ranked 13th prior to the Buffalo game.

Gora said that the school has not named a coach for the bowl game against Tulsa.