Joey Jones has offered his resignation as South Alabama's head coach, the program announced Monday. He will lead the team in their final regular season game at New Mexico State on Dec. 2, then step down after that.
"There comes a time in every program where there is a need for change. For this program that I love so much, that time is now," Jones said. "One of the proudest days of my professional life was being the named the first head coach at South Alabama. Today is difficult, but it is the right step for me, my family and for this football program."
Jones is the only program South Alabama has ever known, hired two months after the program's Dec. 6, 2007 formation. He led the program to a 23-4 mark as an FCS Independent from 2009-11, then into the Sun Belt beginning in 2012. The program reached the 6-win mark three times under Jones and played in bowl games in 2014 and '16, but was eliminated from bowl contention with a 52-0 loss to Georgia Southern on Saturday.
"Joey Jones is the father of our football program. He, his wife Elise and his entire family put their arms around the program and committed to its establishment and growth," said AD Joel Erdmann. "He has placed South Alabama Football on strong footing, which is something he and his family can be very proud of and we sincerely appreciate. His good, hard work and commitment will forever be recognized."
With the move South Alabama becomes the eighth FBS program and the second Sun Belt school -- joining Georgia Southern -- to go on the coaching market.
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