Rick Stockstill out after 18 seasons as the head coach at Middle Tennessee

The fourth-longest tenured head coach in FBS has been let go. Middle Tennessee announced Monday that it was parting ways with Rick Stockstill, who led the Blue Raiders for the last eighteen seasons. Stockstill went 113-111 overall, going to ten bowl games and winning four.

“This is one of the most difficult days in my tenure, but one I feel is necessary in our aspiration to compete and win championships,” AD Chris Massaro said in a statement. “I appreciate everything Rick, his wife Sara, and their family have done the last 18 years for MTSU Athletics, our football program, and, more importantly, our student-athletes. Because of his leadership, our student-athletes have performed at a high level in the classroom, have dedicated time and energy to supporting our community and have given us countless hours of dedication to being successful on the football field. I want to thank Coach Stockstill for his professionalism, character and dedication, and wish him well in his future endeavors.”

The Raiders won back-to-back bowls in 2021 and 2022 but this year regressed a bit to 4-8 (3-5 CUSA). Stockstill was very consistent during his tenure, finishing with the near .500 overall record, but only once won a divisional title (2018) and had just one 10-win season (2009).

credit to Getty Images/Eric Espada for the photo