Morris Brown fires coaches to save money

ATLANTA - In an effort to save money, Morris Brown College fired football coach Sol Brannan, two of his assistants and three other employees in the athletic department Tuesday. <br> <br> ``It was a mandate by the school to cut staff across the campus,&#39;&#39; athletic director Russell Ellington said. <br> <br> Also fired at the private college were assistant coaches Greg Thompson and Mike Wallace, equipment manager and administrative assistant Cecil Fred, trainer Nicole Pinnock and assistant women&#39;s basketball coach Jerome Rowland. <br> <br> The six had a combined annual salary of $236,500. <br> <br> Morris Brown, which is appealing the loss of its accreditation, is $27 million in debt. <br> <br> Ellington said a decision on whether to replace the fired employees won&#39;t be made until March when the historically black college learns the result of its appeal. <br> <br> Assistant coach Mike Pitts will lead the football program on an interim basis. <br> <br> Brannan coached the Wolverines for two seasons, posting 5-6 and 1-11 records. <br> <br> ``I think my release was personal,&#39;&#39; Brannan said. ``Winning wasn&#39;t the thing, because they didn&#39;t give me anything to win with. In my two years as head coach, I was never given any recruiting money. I must&#39;ve spent close to $40,000 of my own personal money.&#34;

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