BOULDER — Mike MacIntyre has been fired, and the search for a new head football coach at the University of Colorado resumes immediately, the school announced Sunday.
MacIntyre's firing comes on the heels of CU's sixth straight loss in the 2018 fall season. After getting off to a 5-0 start and a No. 18 ranking nationally, the Buffs have lost the next six, while also failing to win a sixth game necessary to clinch a bowl berth.
Athletic director Rick George met with MacIntyre Sunday morning to inform him of his decision, CU said in a press release. He then met with the coaching staff and players in a late team meeting.
George announced during a Sunday afternoon press conference that quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper will serve as interim head coach for CU's final regular season game against Cal.
Roper is in his first season as the quarterbacks coach at CU.
"I want to thank Mike for six seasons of hard work and dedication to the program, both on and off the field," he said. "There's no doubt that the 2016 season was magical, and it appeared we were headed back to taking our place among the nation's elite. However, analyzing the direction of the program over the last two years, I felt this is the necessary time to make a change."
Earlier this week, the school and MacIntyre had to face reports that the program was going to make a head coaching change at the end of the season. At the time, CU athletic director Rick George released a statement that said in part,
"We do not comment on speculation or unsubstantiated rumors with anonymous sources. I have made no decisions regarding the future of the football program."
MacIntyre held his weekly press conference on Tuesday. When asked about his job security, he said he did not feel like his job was in jeopardy, and called the anonymous reports "gutless."
MacIntyre is 30-44 as Colorado's head coach. He was hired on Dec. 10, 2012. He signed a three-year contract extension in January of last year, following a 10-4 season and a Pac-12 South championship. He was named the Pac-12 coach of the year, and won numerous coach of the year accolades.
He currently has $10.3 million remaining on his contract. If he secures a new job in the NFL or as a collegiate coach, CU's contract obligations will be reduced by the new salary amount, CU said.