Rod Milstead Is Dismissed as DSU’s Head Coach
Rod Milstead was dismissed as Delaware State University head football coach on Monday, athletic director Alecia Shields-Gadson said in a school announcement.
“We thank coach Milstead for his service to our football program and the university the past five years and wish him well in his future endeavors,” said Shields-Gadson. “The university will soon begin a national search for a new head football coach.”
Milstead spent five years as DSU’s head coach. Milstead’s teams went 17-33 overall and 7-18 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
“I’m disappointed,” said Milstead, who’d hoped to finish out a contract that runs through the 2023 season. “But I’m not mad, I’m not angry, none of that. I love Delaware State. Always have, always will. And I’m still gonna support whenever I can.”
The team’s 5-6 records the last two years were their best since also going 5-6 in 2013.
“That’s why today was shocking to me,” Milstead said. “I think that we’re on the right page.”
DSU started the 2022 season with promise, getting off to a 4-2 start. The season took a turn for the worse prior to the Howard game when offensive coordinator Bryan Bossard passed away after a short illness. DSU went on to lose that game 35-17 before losing a tough game to North Carolina Central, the eventual co-champion of the MEAC along with Howard. It did bounce back to beat South Carolina State before falling to Norfolk State and Campbell to close out the season.
