Oct 31, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt looks on against the Florida Gators during the second half at EverBank Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 27-3. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mark Richt is out after 15 seasons as head football coach of the Georgia Bulldogs.
Athletic director Greg McGarity announced Sunday that the university and Richt had mutually agreed to part ways.
Richt is 145-51 at Georgia and has two SEC titles but failed to win the weak East division three years in a row. The Bulldogs finished 9-3 this season but lost the three games that mattered to fans: Alabama, Tennessee and Florida.
“Coach Richt and I met Sunday morning to discuss the status of our football program,” McGarity said in a statement, “and we mutually agreed that he would step down as head coach and would have the opportunity to accept other duties and responsibilities at UGA following the bowl game.”
Georgia will owe Richt a buyout of $4.1 million, according to the contract extension he signed in January. He has yet to sign the contract, but McGarity said the school would honor the deal.
Richt, 55, led the Bulldogs to a 13-7 victory over rival Georgia Tech on Saturday.
“I appreciate the opportunity of serving the University as well as considering any other options that may present themselves in the future,” Richt said Sunday in the school statement.
—One day after a 46-41 loss to Maryland ended a controversial 4-8 season for Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights made sweeping changes, firing coach Kyle Flood and athletic director Julie Hermann.
University president Robert Barchi said in a letter to the Rutgers community that former Seton Hall athletic director Patrick Hobbs would serve as interim athletic director. Norries Wilson was named interim head coach to lead “the offseason program,” Barchi said, noting a search would be conducted to find a fulltime replacement.
Flood had a record of 27-24 in four seasons at Rutgers, but the team was just 4-12 in two years of Big Ten conference play, including 1-7 this season.
Hermann was reportedly forced to resign.
—Matt Campbell is leaving Toledo to become Iowa State’s next football coach.
Campbell will replace Paul Rhoads, who posted a 32-55 record in seven seasons with the Cyclones. Iowa State finished with a 3-9 record this season after a 30-6 loss to West Virginia on Saturday.
“I couldn’t be more excited to receive the opportunity to coach at Iowa State,” Campbell said in a statement released by Iowa State. “Two years ago after we played the Cyclones in Ames, I called my wife (Erica) and said you simply would not believe this place. Their fans, the game-day environment and facilities are all incredible. I could see us living in Ames and me coaching the Cyclones some day. My family and I are truly humbled.”
The 36-year-old Campbell wrapped up his fourth year at Toledo, where he had a 35-15 record and his teams finished 24-8 in the Mid-American Conference.
—Mike London resigned as head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers, athletic director Craig Littlepage announced.
London went 27-46 in five seasons at Virginia. He will receive $2.7 million after reaching a financial agreement with the university. His contract was set to expire after the 2016 season.
The Cavaliers finished 4-8 this season after a 23-20 loss to Virginia Tech on Saturday.
