Two head coaches have stepped away from the United Football League just days before the league begins its second season.
The league said Monday that Ken Whisenhunt, the coach of the Memphis Showboats, is taking a season-long leave of absence, citing personal reasons. Offensive line coach Jim Turner will assume the role on an interim basis.
That move follows the departure on Sunday of Reggie Barlow from the D.C. Defenders. Barlow was hired as the head coach at Tennessee State.
The 63-year-old Whisenhunt, the former head coach of the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans, was named last September to coach the Showboats.
“The impact that Ken has made on the culture of the Memphis Showboats in his brief time as head coach has been very impressive and we were excited to see the team perform in Week 1,” said league president Russ Brandon and executive vice president Daryl Johnston in a statement.
“We take pride in the UFL being a Family First league and we respect Ken’s decision to take a leave of absence for personal reasons at this time. … If and when Ken Whisenhunt is ready to return to the UFL Family, we will welcome him with open arms.”
Turner will lead the Showboats in their season opener on Sunday at home against the Michigan Panthers. He has nearly 30 years of pro and college coaching experience.
In D.C., quarterbacks coach Shannon Harris is taking the reins as interim head coach.
Barlow was head coach of the Defenders for two seasons — the first one was under the XFL banner –and posted a 13-7 record. In the first season, he was named XFL Coach of the Year after leading the team to a 9-1 finish and the league championship game, which it lost to the Arlington Renegades.
“We wish Reggie the best of luck in his new duties as head coach at Tennessee State and know that the Defenders are in great hands with Shannon Harris at the helm,” Brandon said. “On a personal level, it has been a privilege to work with Reggie over the past three years. He is obviously a tremendous coach, but he’s an even better person.”
Barlow, 53, was the head football coach at Alabama State and Virginia State before heading to the Defenders. At Tennessee State, he replaces Eddie George, who took the job earlier this month as head coach at Bowling Green.
Harris, the interim coach, also counts stops at Virginia State and Tennessee State, as well as Alcorn State, among his jobs in 16 years of coaching in Division 1 college football.
The Defenders host the defending UFL champion Birmingham Stallions on Sunday.
–Field Level Media
