TUCSON, Ariz. -- Coach Mike Stoops has been fired halfway through his eighth season at Arizona.
Athletic director Greg Byrne announced Stoops' dismissal at a news conference Monday evening, two days after the Wildcats lost their fifth straight game, 37-27, at previously winless Oregon State.
Dating to last season, Arizona has lost 10 of 11 games, the lone victory this season's opener over Northern Arizona, a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) school. The Wildcats last beat a Football Bowl Subdivision team in a game against UCLA on Oct. 30, 2010.
Stoops had a 41-50 record with the Wildcats. He was co-defensive coordinator on his brother Bob's staff at Oklahoma before he was hired at Arizona. The 49-year-old coach, known for his emotional sideline behavior, also was an assistant at his alma mater Iowa and at Kansas State.
"I am very proud of the Wildcat football program and the many accomplishments we have enjoyed," Stoops said in a statement issued Monday. "Topping that list is our qualifying for consecutive bowl games the last three seasons for only the second time in school history. I am also proud of the success our players demonstrated off the field. Not only has our team Academic Progress Rate (APR) improved significantly each of the past five years, but also our players have made great strides in conducting themselves in a manner that reflects the ideals of this University. When I took this job, I was hoping to be the first coach to lead this program to a Rose Bowl. Although we fell short of that goal, we made significant progress, and our organization continues to strive for excellence. I wish the entire Wildcat football program the best of luck going forward, and I thank the University of Arizona for the opportunity to be a part of the successes we have achieved over the past eight seasons."
His 2010 team started the season 7-1 but lost its last five, including a 36-10 blowout to Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl. Arizona, the only team in the old Pac-10 never to play in the Rose Bowl, had consecutive 8-5 seasons in 2008 and 2009.
"Coach Stoops had many successes as our head coach over the last eight seasons," Byrne said in a news release. "It was a difficult decision but I feel now is the time for new leadership and direction."
At the news conference, Byrne said the buyout for the remainder of Stoops' contract will be about $1.4 million. His contract ran through 2013 under an extension granted in December 2008.
Defensive coordinator Tim Kish will serve as interim coach through the remainder of the season, Byrne said, while a national search for a coach is conducted.
"We will make the best decision for Arizona football, and we are open to a variety of candidates, but the next time you will hear anything from me about this search will be when we introduce our new coach," he said.
Arizona does not play until a Thursday night home game, Oct. 20, against UCLA.
"This decision is absolutely necessary at this time," university President Eugene Sander said. "Actually, I'd like to congratulate Greg for his decisiveness in making this decision."
Sander said it avoids any speculation about Stoops' future that would have dogged the team the remainder of the season had the coach stayed on.
Sander said he had consulted with the Arizona Board of Regents, and its chairman Fred DuVal "is fully in agreement with this decision."
Stoops' volatile sideline behavior became an issue last year, as fans started to complain about the coach's routine raging at officials, players and other coaches. But Arizona stuck by Stoops heading into 2011, only to see the bottom fall out.
The timing of the move will draw some criticism, but part of the reason for doing it now was to give Arizona a chance to reach bowl eligibility. The schedule becomes easier, with only Washington and Arizona State as opponents that should be heavily favored against the Wildcats.
Among the names that will immediately enter speculation is former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach. He had great success turning an Arizona-level program into a consistent winner in the Big 12, despite butting heads with Texas and Oklahoma. Leach is now in his second season out of coaching after being fired at Tech, where he had regular run-ins with the administration and ultimately was forced out after criticism of his handling of receiver Adam James' concussion.
Among assistant coaches, Illinois offensive coordinator Paul Petrino is a rising head-coaching prospect. Petrino, the brother of Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino, has helped lead the Illini to a surprising 6-0 start. Last year, Petrino's first at the school, Illinois went 7-6 with freshman quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase learning on the job.
Byrne said he told Stoops of his decision Monday afternoon, and told the players before the 6 p.m. PDT news conference.
The Wildcats feature one of the best quarterbacks in the country in senior Nick Foles, but they have struggled on defense and with a young offensive line. Arizona also had a brutal stretch of three consecutive games against teams that were ranked in the top 10 at the time -- Oklahoma State, Stanford and Oregon. A loss at USC followed, then things bottomed out with the loss in Corvallis on Saturday.
Kish called it "a tough day for the program."
"I appreciate Greg's faith in me to provide leadership to our young men during this difficult time," Kish said in a release. "I've been with coach Stoops for each of his eight years here and know that we have a strong foundation for not only the future but for our immediate tasks. I know this coaching staff will work hard and support our players as we compete for the remainder of the season. We're here to help these players succeed."
Information from The Associated Press and ESPN.com senior writer Pat Forde was used in this report.
