Texas A&M fires head football coach Kevin Sumlin after 6 seasons
COLLEGE, STATION (KTRK) -- Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin just became the fifth coach in the Southeastern Conference to be fired this year.
Sumlin coached six seasons with the Aggies, posting an overall record of 51 wins and 26 losses including a record of 25-23 in SEC games. Sumlin compiled the second-best winning percentage (.662) in the modern era of Texas A&M football.
Assistant Coach Jeff Banks will serve as interim head coach.
After Texas A&M lost to LSU on Saturday night to fall to 7-5, coach Kevin Sumlin said he planned to go about his Sunday business as usual, but he acknowledged that could change.
"I always think I should be retained. In my mind, I do my job as best as best as I can," said Sumlin. "And if you think otherwise, if you start doubting whoever you are, you're in the wrong business."
Sumlin was named SEC Coach of the Year in 2012 when he led his first team at A&M to an 11-2 overall record, a victory over Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl, and a national ranking of fifth in the final Associated Press (AP) poll.
Also at A&M, Sumlin coached 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, one of only two players in A&M history to earn that coveted honor. The other was John David Crow in 1957.
His best season in Aggieland was his first in 2012. After that, the Aggies failed to win double-digit games again.
The Aggies also didn't have a winning SEC record after their initial 6-2 mark in 2012, going 4-4 four times and 3-5 once. His team's records vs. SEC teams at Kyle Field was 8-14 overall including a current seven-game losing streak to SEC West teams at home. The Aggies' record against SEC West teams since Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Johnny Manziel left school is 8-16 in the last four seasons, 16-20 overall in six seasons.
Texas A&M owes Sumlin a $10.4 million buyout under the terms of his contract, which is to be paid in the next 60 days and isn't reduced if he takes another coaching job.
Sumlin arrived in College Station after he coached at the University of Houston from 2009-2011.
