Willingham to step down as Huskies head coach
Sports Network | October 27, 2008
Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Tyrone Willingham will step down as head football coach of the Washington Huskies at the end of the season.
The announcement at a Monday press conference comes with the Huskies losing their first seven games this season. Washington is 11-32 on Willingham's watch, which includes a 6-24 mark in the Pac-10.
Willingham indicated in the press conference that the decision was not his and that he never considered resigning, saying "it's just not in my makeup."
Willingham has five games remaining in this his fourth and final season as head coach, including a date this Saturday against the seventh-ranked USC Trojans.
The decision came following meetings between Willingham and director of athletics Scott Woodward, starting last week, and that the decision to move in another direction was finalized Sunday. A similar scenario unfolded following the 2007 season before Willingham was ultimately retained for 2008.
Willingham, 54, cited closure for the university, team and its players as a reason to make the announcement during the season amid rampant speculation concerning his status as head coach. His current contract was set to expire after the 2009 season.
Willingham has compiled a 76-83-1 record as a head coach with Stanford (1994-2001), Notre Dame (2002-2004), and Washington.
