The housecleaning is underway in CIAA football. Greg Richardson and Daryl McNeill are the first casualties of the coaching purge launched by league schools this week, paying the ultimate price for underachieving programs. Richardson was cut loose at Virginia Union after one season. His contract was not renewed after a 5-5 campaign with a team expected to win the CIAA championship.

The Panthers started 4-1 and looked capable of winning a second straight East Division title, but were undone by inconsistency down the stretch. Richardson, a former defensive coordinator, was promoted to head coach in March after Arrington Jones resigned.

Richardson, a former head coach at CIAA rival Livingstone, was an assistant coach for five seasons at Virginia Union, including assistant head coach and defensive coordinator from 2006-07 seasons. He was also a Panthers assistant from 1997-98. Six days after closing a second straight 3-7 campaign, JCSU President Ronald Carter and Athletics Director Steve Joyner announced McNeill's ouster, effective immediately. McNeill was 23-38 in six seasons with the Golden Bulls over two stints. His second tour at the school produced a 13-28 record over the last four seasons. McNeill, who was also associate athletics director, was criticized for the offseason promotion of Rod Robinson to defensive coordinator - his first job on that side of the ball - from tight ends coach and the Bulls' slide to the bottom of the CIAA.

The high point of McNeill's stay at JCSU was 2006 when the Bulls went 7-4 with a berth in the Pioneer Bowl.

He went 10-10 from 1995-96 at JCSU before leaving for Savannah State. University officials say they will begin an immediate search for McNeill's replacement. The new coach will be free to hire his own assistants.