HARRISBURG -- Legendary football coach George Chaump is stunned he's no longer the head coach at Central Dauphin East.
Chaump, who also has coaching experience in major college football and the National Football League, was informed this morning that the school had decided to look for a new coach.
Chaump says he was told by school officials that the program was in "disarray."
"I'm absolutely flabbergasted," Chaump told CBS 21 News Sports Director Jason Bristol.
"The decision to open the head football coaching position at CD East is in the best interest of Central Dauphin East High School," said Central Dauphin East athletic director Greg Goldthorp.
The Panthers finished 3-7 this season, but ended the season with a huge 21-19 upset of rival Central Dauphin, the defending PIAA-AAAA state champion. He was 8-13 in two seasons at CD East -- but guided the Panthers to the playoffs in 2011.
Chaump, who wants to coach again, says the issues involved with the school's decision included "over-working the kids." He believes concerns the officials expressed were "solvable."
He added that while the school endured a tough season, "how do you beat Central Dauphin with a program that's in disarray?"
Central Dauphin East has now had four different coaches in the past five years.
"We truly appreciate all of Coach Chaump's accomplishments with both of his tenures within the district at CD and most recently at East," added Goldthorp, who noted all coaches are hired on a year-to-year basis.
"We wish George Chaump the very best."
