Western Carolina fired football coach Mark Speir after nine seasons on Friday.
The Catamounts were 33-68 on Speir’s watch, including a 1-8 record this season.
“After a thorough evaluation of the program, I feel that it is time we move in a different direction,” athletic director Alex Gary said in a news release. “We are grateful for Coach Speir’s nine years of dedicated service and efforts on behalf of the Catamount football program.”
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Speir was hired in December 2011 and was under contract through the 2025 season, per the Asheville Citizen Times.
Gary said a national search for a successor will begin immediately.
Speir’s teams won seven games three times (2014, 2015 and 2017).
He was an assistant coach at Appalachian State for nine seasons (2003-11) before taking over the FCS program, which competes in the Southern Conference.
–Field Level Media