Pruett retires after nine years as Marshall's winningest coach
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Marshall football coach Bob Pruett retired Wednesday after nine years at the school.
Pruett, 61, told the team of his decision in the morning and held a final news conference three hours later. Larry Kueck, Marshall's associate offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, will serve as interim coach.
"We've had our day in the sun. It's been a wonderful, wonderful day," Pruett said. "No one could ask for any more.
"It's not about winning and losing. It's not about money. It's not about anything I didn't get. It's just time. It's well thought out. This is not a sudden thing."
Athletic director Bob Marcum was disappointed, but he respected Pruett's decision.
"There's no doubt, I've tried everything possible to talk coach Pruett out of it. In fact, I offered him my job," Marcum said jokingly. "I said, 'Listen, if you want to be the athletic director, that's no problem. I'm highly mobile.'
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| Bob Pruett coached Marshall to five MAC championships and five bowl victories. (AP) |
The decision comes as Marshall prepares to enter Conference USA this fall. The Thundering Herd finished their final season in the Mid-American Conference with a 6-6 record, their first non-winning season in 21 years. The school moved to Division I-A in 1997, a year after it won the Division I-AA national championship.
Pruett is the most successful coach in Marshall history, going 94-23 with five MAC championships and five postseason bowl victories.
During his tenure, Pruett coached several future NFL stars, including receiver Randy Moss and quarterbacks Chad Pennington and Byron Leftwich.
Marshall won the conference championship from 1997-2000 and 2002. Pennington led the 1999 team to a 13-0 record, capped with a top 10 national ranking.
Pruett, who said his health was fine, wanted to spend more time with his four grandsons.
"I'm not stepping away from Marshall," Pruett said. "All I am is just taking a different role. I'm becoming a supporter and a fan."
