FAU’s entire assistant coaching staff has been informed they will be released immediately following the end of season on Dec. 3, according to the Palm Beach Post and OwlAccess.com.

Defensive coordinator Kirk Van Valkenburgh and quarterbacks coach Jared Allen, the first quarterback in Owls’ history, both joined the staff during the team’s inaugural season in 2001.

Offensive coordinator Darryl Jackson, tight ends coach Joe Corozza, running backs coach David Serna, offensive line coach Dale Williams, secondary coach Dick Hopkins and inside linebackers coach Richard Lage are the other casualties of an 0-9 record in head coach Howard Schnellenberger’s final season.

According to a report on OwlAccess.com, the released assistant coaches will be given a financial package at the end of the season. Despite being told they must leave their offices by Dec.6, some assistant coaches could still be kept for next season.

“The way it works in this industry is when there’s a coaching change, the [previous] assistants will be interviewed,” said athletic director Craig Angelos. “If the new coach wants to keep them, then they stay on. If we say, ‘Hey, we need to keep you an extra two to three weeks until we get a new coach,’ then they’ll stay on.”

Angelos said there was a reason behind the timing of when the coaches were informed of the decision.

“This has been set since last August when Howard Schnellenberger announced his retirement. We talked to them (the assistant coaches) in the fall to let them know how it works,” said Angelos. “We had to give a date to gauge and secure their vacation time. We’ll work through the process with HR. Nobody got fired. We’re just going through a transition process with a new coach getting ready to come in.”