BOULDER, Colo. -- Mike MacIntyre is out as head football coach at CU, a source confirmed to Denver7 on Sunday.
The news, later confirmed by CU athletic director Rick George in a press release, comes after CU’s sixth straight loss at home to the Utah Utes on Saturday, during which the Buffaloes suffered an embarrassing 30-7 defeat at Folsom Field.
Broncos Insider Troy Renck first reported last week that MacIntyre would be parting ways with the university at the end of the season due to the way the team was run over the past two years.
In the press release, a spokesperson for the Buffs said George would name an interim head coach for the final game of the regular season against the California Golden Bears, which takes place Nov. 24.
"I want to thank Mike for six seasons of hard work and dedication to the program, both on and off the field,” George said in the release. “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."
During a press conference early Sunday afternoon, George announced CU Buffs' QB coach Kurt Roper would become the interim coach for the rest of the regular season. The team will seek out a new head coach immediately, he said.
"I want a coach that cares for the student athletes," said George when asked what he's looking for in the new coach, adding that the team needed new energy following the loss against the Utes on Saturday. "I think it's important to get someone in here that has the same expectations that I do — and that is to win," George said.
The athletic director also said he will be looking at current staff and outside the program for the new head coach.
Asked if he would be interested in head coaching for the Buffs, Roper said he's just focused on the final game of the season.
You can watch the press conference in the video below:
The Buffs, which currently sit at 5-6, would become bowl eligible if they beat California next Saturday.
CU started the season 5-0 and hasn't won since. MacIntyre was 0-9 in qualifying bowl games the past two seasons and CU has been out scored 82-10 in the second half of their last three home games.
MacIntyre was done after Wash State loss. Question repeated by multiple sources: How will it get better next yr? It would not. Was time to move on. Buffs outscored 82-10 in 2nd half of last 3 home games. They are 0-9 when trying to qualify for bowl game last two years. #Denver7
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) November 18, 2018
MacIntyre spent six years as the head coach at CU, posting a 30-43 record. The Buffs have qualified for one bowl during MacIntyre's tenure -- a 38-8 Alamo Bowl loss in 2016 to Oklahoma State.
Hired after his success at San Jose State, MacIntyre entered this year with one winning season in his previous five at Boulder. In 2016, he achieved his greatest success at CU, leading the Buffs to a 10-4 record.
MacIntyre has $10.3 million buyout in his contract, which ran through the end of 2021. Should he get a job in the NFL or as a collegiate head coach, CU’s contract obligations will be reduced by his new salary amount, George said.
Broncos Insider Troy E. Renck contributed to this report.
