When Florida Atlantic fired coach Charlie Partridge on Sunday, it joined rival FIU as a program that fired its head coach this year. FAU Athletic Director Pat Chun, however, said FIU's hiring of Butch Davis does not affect the Owls' search.
"It doesn't impact us," Chun said. "Our program is in a very different place, academically, Schmidt center, stadium. It's comparing apples and oranges."
Davis, the former Miami Hurricanes and North Carolina coach, was introduced as the new Panthers coach on Nov. 15. His hiring created a buzz around South Florida and figures to be a roadblock in FAU's quest to Conference USA prominence under its next coach.