Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia coach Mark Richt stepping down after 15 seasons

Published Nov. 29, 2015 12:29 p.m. ET

foxsports

Mark Richt, one of the nation's longest-tenured coaches, is no longer the head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs.

The 55-year-old coach is stepping down following a disappointing 9-3 season that wrapped up on Saturday with a 13-7 win over rival Georgia Tech, the school announced on Sunday.

"Coach Richt and I met Sunday morning to discuss the status of our football program," athletic director Greg 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."

The Bulldogs boast a 145-51 record with Richt on the sidelines, including two conference championships, but the program has not captured an SEC title in a decade and has not won the league's weaker East division since 2012. Since Richt took over, four SEC schools have won national championships — Alabama (three times), LSU (twice), Florida (twice) and Auburn — while Georgia has yet to play for the title in the BCS or College Football Playoff eras.

Richt finishes his tenure as the winningest coach in Georgia history.

Richt agreed to a contract extension back in January that, if the school honors the deal, will pay him a $4.1 million buyout.

Georgia joins a growing list of major FBS job openings that includes USC, Miami, South Carolina, Missouri, Maryland and Virginia.