James Madison may have found its next coach

Harrisonburg, VA (SportsNetwork.com) - According to a report, James Madison University may be close to naming its next head football coach.

Footballscoop.com reported Thursday that Everett Withers will be the next head coach for the Dukes, succeeding Mickey Matthews. Withers spent the last two seasons at Ohio State as an assistant coach and co-defensive coordinator.

Withers was at North Carolina prior to Ohio State, where he was the defensive coordinator for three seasons and, in 2011, served as the interim coach for the Tar Heels after Butch Davis was let go.

Matthews, a two-time winner of the Eddie Robinson Award, given annually to the FCS coach of the year, was fired after the 2013 season with one year remaining on his contract. His Dukes finished the season 6-6 overall with a 3-5 record in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Matthews was 109-71 in his 15 seasons at JMU, which included a national championship in 2004 and five total playoff appearances. The Dukes have been to the FCS postseason once in the last five seasons.