Reinhardt's Head Football Coach Resigns

WALESKA GA -- After serving as one of the main architects of Reinhardt University’s football program,

Drew Cronic is stepping down as head football coach to become offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Furman University.

“This wasn’t an easy decision," Cronic said. "I love Reinhardt football and Reinhardt University. I like being the head coach at Reinhardt University. I think the future is bright here. At the same time, this is a great opportunity and something I’ve been praying about. I’ve got some professional and personal goals that I’d like to reach, and I think this is a step I need to take to get me there. I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish here, because it hasn’t just been me. It’s been the administrators, it’s been the assistant coaches, and it’s especially been the young men that have bought in to everything we’ve wanted to do.”

In only its fourth year of play, the 2016 Reinhardt football team finished 13-1, reaching the NAIA Football Championship Series Semifinals for the first time in program history. Champions of the Mid-South Conference West Division, Reinhardt finished the season ranked No. 3, tying the 2014 Reinhardt softball team for the highest end-of-season ranking for any RU athletic program in the department’s NAIA history.

“Drew has done so much over the past four years to help build our football program, but also to help shape our university in a number of positive ways,” said Reinhardt Athletics Director Bill Popp. “He’s served on various committees for the university and has done yeoman’s work that I guarantee you very few football coaches across the country have done. While we’re disappointed to see him go, we have nothing but gratitude for everything he’s done for the football program and the university as a whole.”

In announcing his decision, Cronic said he's a much better coach and leader than he was five years ago. Reinhardt, he added, gave him the chance to start up a program and its leaders instilled into him the confidence needed to keep pushing forward.

“Reinhardt, first of all, is a special place because I got to start something from scratch with my best friend, my dad,” Cronic said. “When we started, our offices were just a phone and a desk in the registrar’s office. To be here and be able to start something from scratch is an experience not a lot of people get to have.”

Cronic is referring to Dr. Danny Cronic, who served as the head coach for the football program before he stepped down in 2015.

Reinhardt ranked nationally in the top five of 14 different team statistical rankings in the final NAIA ranking. The Eagles rushed for 5,040 yards, the most in the country, and averaged 360 yards per game. Reinhardt’s 51.4 points per game led the nation, as did the team’s 719 total points. The Eagles converted on third-down 60.9 percent of the time, the best mark in the NAIA. Reinhardt’s defense also had its best season on record, giving up just 13.8 points per game to rank second in the country.

As impressive was the team’s work in the classroom under Cronic. Of the 147 student-athletes in the program in the fall of 2016, 97 had a grade point average of 3.0 or better. Of those, 54 had a 3.5 GPA or better, and 18 had a perfect 4.0 GPA. As a team, the Eagles posted a 3.11 GPA for the semester.

Cronic returns to Furman University where he served nine years on the coaching staff, with the final four spent as the recruiting coordinator. During his previous time with the Paladins, Cronic also coached the running backs, tight ends, and wide receivers during various periods.

He also coached at James Madison and at the University of West Georgia.

Cronic both graduated from and played for the University of Georgia. He lettered in 1996 and 1997, earning Southeastern Conference All-Academic honors. After graduating with a bachelor’s in math education in 1997, Cronic went on to earn his master of education in educational leadership in 1999 from West Georgia.

Image via Reinhardt University