Mack departs N.C. Central; Eastman named interim coach

STATS FCS Senior Editor

(STATS) - North Carolina Central football coach Jerry Mack has resigned after four seasons to become the defensive coordinator on new Rice coach Mike Bloomgren's staff.

The MEAC school then promoted Granville Eastman to serve as interim head football coach. He's served the past four years as the assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and safeties coach.

Mack posted a 31-15 record, including 26-6 in the MEAC while the Eagles shared conference titles in 2014 and '15 and was the outright champion in 2016. This year's team finished 7-4.

"North Carolina Central University is excited about Coach Jerry Mack's new appointment and salute his contributions to our student-athletes and athletics program," school chancellor Dr. Johnson Akinleye said.

"He and his staff's dedication to our student-athletes and this university has built a nationally ranked program that has garnered increased exposure for NCCU throughout North Carolina and around the country."

Eastman has 24 years of collegiate coaching experience. Prior to joining Mack's staff in 2013, Eastman spent nine seasons as the defensive coordinator and 11 seasons overall at Austin Peay. He's also coached at Tiffin, York and Arkansas State.

Bloomgren was hired at Rice on Wednesday.