Now what for Adams State football? That’s the basic question going around following this week’s resignation from head coach Jarrell Harrison.

Adams State Athletic Director Katelyn Smith said she has a search consultant and a committee coming together to find a new head coach, a hire that will be the 24th head football coach in school history.

“We will be moving very fast,” Smith said on Thursday.

The Grizzlies were winless in 2024, putting the proverbial nail in Harrison’s coffin. He arrived at Adams State as a running backs coach in 2016 under Timm Rosenbach and was elevated to interim head coach on Jan. 5, 2021, following the resignation of Josh Blankenship.

Harrison was a frequent guest on The Valley Pod during his time as head coach. He finished with an overall record of 6-38, and Adams State produced 14 All-Conference selections and nine Academic All-Conference honorees during his tenure.

“We would like to thank Coach Harrison for everything he has done for this program during his time here. I would like to express my sincere appreciation for his dedication to Adams State Football and I wish him the absolute best in his future endeavors,” said Smith as part of the resignation announcement.

For Adams State overall, it’s been an on-and-off century for football glory. The last winning season was 2013 when the Grizzlies went 7-4 under head coach Marty Heaton, and the year previous the Grizzlies were 8-3 and beat the likes of Colorado Mesa, Colorado Mines and Fort Lewis, rivals to Adams State in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Since then, 4-7 is the best Adams State has been able to muster. Harrison’s top season was 3-8 in 2023, and a winless year this season left Adams State with no choice but to move on. 

Here’s a year-by-year look at Adams State football in the 21st Century.

Adams State overall won-loss record

2000 3-7

2001 2-9

2002 5-6

2003 4-7

2004 7-4

2005 6-5

2006 6-5

2007 2-9

2008 5-6

2009 5-6

2010 5-6

2011 6-5

2012 8-3

2013 7-4

2014 4-7

2015 3-8

2016 2-8

2017 4-7

2018 4-7

2019 4-7

2020 No season/COVID

2021 1-10

2022 2-9

2023 3-8