MSU head football coach Jackie Sherrill publicly announced on Monday afternoon that he will retire as MSU head football coach at the conclusion of this football season.
News of Sherrill’s decision surfaced on Friday afternoon after he addressed his players and coaching staff. Sherrill also sent out a mass e-mail to the Athletic Department revealing his decision to retire and to express his feelings toward the university.
Sherrill said that he felt like now was the right time for him to retire from the game of football. He also added that he wanted to university to have ample time in finding a coaching replacement, and that in no way did the NCAA investigations have anything to do with his decision to retire.
“I’ve always said that I will make the decision when it is the right time for me to retire,” Sherrill said. “It’s just a feeling that you have, and when you have that feeling you know that it’s time.”
Sherrill came to MSU in 1991 with hopes of turning around a program that had only one winning season in the previous nine years. Thirteen years later, Sherrill will leave as MSU’s winningest coach. In his 13 years as head football coach, Sherrill has brought excitement and notoriety to the program.
After the 1994 Bulldogs beat the #23 Tennessee Volunteers 24-21 in Peyton Manning’s first game, an exuberant Sherrill threw his hat into the air and jumped up and down as if he had just won the national championship.
After bowl games in 1998-2000, the Bulldogs began their decline.
Athletic Director Larry Templeton praised Sherrill for the professional way he handled Monday’s press conference.
“You don’t always have the opportunity to see a situation like this handled with such class,” said Templeton.
Now the focus turns to finding a new head coach to replace Sherrill.
President J. Charles Lee said the university will do everything in its power to find the most qualified coach.
“We intend to be thorough in identifying exceptional candidates who have the potential to build on the base Coach Sherrill has established,” said Lee. “We believe that we have much to offer the right individual, and we know that the expectations of our students, faculty, alumni, and other Bulldog fans will be high.”
Although none of the candidates were discussed at Monday’s press conference, Templeton said that many candidates have contacted him with interest in the vacant coaching position. Templeton also said that the university plans to hire a new head coach as early as the end of the bowl season.
Sherrill’s coaching career will end at the conclusion of The Egg Bowl, but he said that he will continue to support Mississippi State.
“I will always be a Bulldog,” said Sherrill.