Buffalo head coach Jeff Quinn has been dismissed, FootballScoop has confirmed. Update>The University has now confirmed the dismissal.
While the staff member FootballScoop spoke with could not comment on the record, the staff is in shock following the Bulls' unexpected 37-27 loss to Eastern Michigan on Saturday. We kept an eye on that game, and it wasn't pretty.
The loss dropped Buffalo to 3-4 on the season.
247 first reported the news.
Quinn arrived from Cincinnati in 2010 after serving as Brian Kelly's offensive coordinator and offensive line coach from 2006-09. Buffalo's win total improved each of Quinn's first three seasons, from a 2-10 debut in 2010, to 3-9 in 2011, to 4-8 in 2012, and finally to a breakthrough 8-5 season with an appearance in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl a year ago. But the Bulls are off to a disappointing 3-4 start this season, with wins over FCS Duquesne and Norfolk State and 1-6 Miami (Ohio).
He was 20-36 at the school. Quinn made $325,000 last season, the lowest available figure for MAC head coaches per the USA Today database. His assistants made an average of about $90,000, with the highest paid assistants earning $130,000.
Buffalo is the fourth FBS school to make a coaching change this season, following SMU, Kansas and Troy.
Offensive coordinator Alex Wood will serve as interim head coach for the season.
Athletic director Danny White is now on the clock... White states in a release now that a "national search" will begin immediately.
As always, FootballScoop will have more information as the story develops on The Scoop.
Athletic Director Danny White released the following statement about Quinn:
It is with great disappointment that we have to make this change. Unfortunately, the performance on the field this season and over Coach Quinn's tenure has not matched our expectations for the growth of Bulls football.
The statement ended with:
With today's announcement, UB Athletics will not comment further on Quinn's tenure as football coach or on the search for a new head coach.