The Shaw football program is back to looking for a coach after their initial choice stepped aside.
Greg Ruffin, who led the Bears to a 7-3 record in the program’s 2002 revival season, will not be returning to Raleigh, the university and Ruffin announced Wednesday afternoon.
“I deeply appreciate the opportunity to once again serve as head coach of Shaw University,” Ruffin said. “Unfortunately, due to health concerns, I must step away from my coaching duties. I am grateful for the support of the Shaw family and will always remain a proud part of this community.”
“We fully support Coach Ruffin in prioritizing his health and well-being during this difficult time. Our thoughts are with him, and we wish him a full and speedy recovery,” Shaw athletic director George Knox said in a statement released by the university.
Ruffin has coached at several HBCU programs in his career; aside from Shaw, he’s been the head coach at Paine, Texas College, and Edward Waters while serving as an assistant at Lincoln (Mo.), Benedict, Tuskegee, Jackson State, Texas Southern, Bethune-Cookman, and Alabama State.
The Bears re-hired Ruffin after firing Adrian Jones, who served as Bears head coach for nine seasons. Jones was recently hired in that same role by Elizabeth City State.
Shaw says an announcement regarding a new head football coach will be coming soon.
