DuPaix jumps ship

The big scoop of the day, which you'll read out about in Friday's paper, is that offensive coordinator Joe DuPaix is leaving the Cal Poly football team less than a month after guiding the Mustangs to one of the most impressive offensive seasons in program history.
Only DuPaix, one of two remaining assistants from head coach Rich Ellerson's initial coaching staff in 2001, isn't taking the Southern Utah job as some folks had hoped.
DuPaix told The Tribune today he has accepted an assistant coaching position with the Navy Midshipmen, which came as a surprise to his players and the T-Bird supporters back in Cedar City, Utah, where the Salt Lake City native interviewed for the Thunderbirds head coaching vacancy on Tuesday.
But after hearing all that Southern Utah had -- and didn't have -- to offer, he accepted the Navy assistant coaching position later that same night. DuPaix will be coaching the running backs at I-A Navy, which apparently is a better gig than the head coaching job at I-AA Southern Utah.
Neither Cal Poly nor Navy have announced the hiring as of late Thursday night, but you can read all about it in Friday's paper (and if you hear about it elsewhere, you know where they got it). A look at the Cal Poly assistants who have jumped to the I-A level since Ellerson took over prior to the 2001 season:

• David Fipp, Nevada/San Jose St.
• Joe Seumalo, San Jose St./Oregon St.
• Jeff Hammerschmidt, Stanford
• David Brown, Ohio
• Brent Brennan, San Jose St.
• Joe DuPaix, Navy