West Texas A&M Director of Athletics Michael McBroom put out a press release on November 18 that head football coach Mike Nesbitt has been let go, effective immediately.

      “This was a difficult decision, as Mike is a great coach and an even better person,” McBroom said. “He and his family have been an integral part of WT in many different capacities, and his mentoring of his players has been second to none.”

      Nesbitt caps his career as the Buff’s head coach with a 25-17 record, finishing the 2016 season at 6-5 (5-4 Lone Star Conference competition). In the spring of 2013, Nesbitt came onto staff as the offensive line coach, and then in August 2013, he assumed the title of interim head coach and became the head coach after that season. He led them to an 11-3 record, and a national quarterfinal NCAA playoff berth.

    “To his credit, Mike inherited an extremely difficult situation and led the football program admirably with the utmost professionalism,” McBroom said. “He put us on a path to a more stable program and one that operates within the mission of our great university.”

      WT went 6-5 in 2014, but four wins were dropped following NCAA violations. They finished 6-4 in 2015.

    “Simply stated, this is a results-oriented business and we have not met the expectations I have for the football program in terms of wins,” McBroom said. “I will begin a national search immediately.  Our next head coach will be charged with returning our football program to the national playoffs, achieving the team GPA and graduation rates consistent with the athletic department mission and re-engaging our great fan base as we move into a new era of WT football.”

    The Prairie will provide updates to this story following a press conference scheduled for 5:00 PM on November 18.