In a shocking turn of events, the Charlotte 49ers have fired head football coach Biff Poggi after just two seasons, according to sources close to the program. The university is expected to make an official announcement Monday night, with tight ends coach and associate head coach Tim Brewster set to take over as interim head coach.
Poggi’s dismissal comes on the heels of a disappointing 6-16 record over his two-year tenure, including a 2-4 mark in American Athletic Conference play this season. The 49ers have lost four consecutive games, with back-to-back blowout losses to Tulane and South Florida sealing Poggi’s fate.
An Unconventional Hire Gone Wrong
When Charlotte hired Poggi in 2022, it raised eyebrows in the college football world. The former Michigan associate head coach had limited experience at the collegiate level, with most of his success coming as the head coach of St. Frances Academy, a high school powerhouse in Baltimore.
Despite his unconventional background, Charlotte took a chance on Poggi, hoping he could bring a fresh perspective and build a winning culture. However, the experiment quickly unraveled, as the team struggled on the field and faced disciplinary issues off it.
Discipline Problems Plague Program
One of the defining moments of Poggi’s tenure came during a game against Florida Atlantic University last season, when the 49ers’ lack of discipline was on full display. The team committed numerous personal foul penalties, prompting Poggi to suspend an unspecified number of players and issue a public statement expressing his disappointment in the team’s “comportment.”
I am extremely disappointed with our comportment as a football team.
Biff Poggi, former Charlotte 49ers head coach
Despite Poggi’s efforts to rein in his players, the discipline problems persisted, contributing to the team’s on-field struggles and ultimately leading to his downfall.
Brewster Steps In As Interim Coach
With Poggi out, the 49ers will turn to Tim Brewster to lead the program on an interim basis. Brewster, who served as the tight ends coach and associate head coach under Poggi, brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as the head coach at Minnesota and worked as an assistant at Florida State, Texas A&M, and North Carolina.
As Charlotte begins its search for a permanent head coach, Brewster will be tasked with stabilizing the program and attempting to salvage what’s left of a disappointing season. The 49ers have not reached a bowl game since 2019, the only postseason appearance in school history.
Poggi’s Buyout and the Future of Charlotte Football
According to sources, Poggi is expected to receive a buyout of approximately $1.3 million from his original contract. The financial implications of the coaching change will undoubtedly impact Charlotte’s search for a new head coach, as the university looks to find a leader who can build a winning program while navigating the challenges of the American Athletic Conference.
As the college football coaching carousel continues to spin, Charlotte finds itself in a precarious position. The 49ers are now one of five AAC programs searching for a new head coach, joining Rice, Temple, East Carolina, and Florida Atlantic.
The next head coach will inherit a program with untapped potential but significant hurdles to overcome. Charlotte’s location in a talent-rich state and its membership in a competitive conference could be selling points for potential candidates, but the team’s recent struggles and disciplinary issues may give some coaches pause.
As the search begins, Charlotte fans will be left to wonder what might have been had Poggi’s unconventional hire panned out. Instead, they now find themselves at a crossroads, hoping that the next head coach can finally lead the 49ers to sustained success on the gridiron.
