Jimmy Lake was fired Sunday after just 13 games as the University of Washington’s head football coach.
Defensive coordinator Bob Gregory will continue to serve as the program’s interim head coach for the rest of the season, and a national search for the program’s next head coach is underway.
But less than two years ago, none of that seemed possible. Chris Petersen stood at a podium in the Don James Center in Husky Stadium on Dec. 3, 2019, decked out in a purple shirt and tie. The day before, UW announced that Petersen would step down after six seasons as the Huskies’ head coach, and Lake — his defensive coordinator — would serve as his chosen successor. Lake and athletic director Jen Cohen both sat nearby, facing rows of cameras, media members, donors and alums.
On the video board beyond the field at Petersen’s back, three words were displayed in bold, white type — between smiling photos of Petersen on the left, and Lake on the right:
“A NEW REIGN”
“This is interesting. It’s like a combination between a funeral and a wedding … but it’s more of a wedding,” Petersen said with a smile.
Less than two years later, the marriage has ended in divorce.
