Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

College Football Program Fires Head Coach After Deflating Overtime Loss

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt Audilet | Last updated Nov 16, 2024 12:57 PM ET

The Ball State football program fired head coach Mike Neu on Saturday morning, ending his coaching tenure in his ninth season with the Cardinals.

Ball State is 3-7 to start the 2024 college football season. On Tuesday, the team suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss at the hands of the Buffalo Bulls. The Cardinals fell with a 51-48 final score, marking an end to Neu's coaching career in Muncie.

Neu finishes his head coaching tenure with a 40-63 overall record. The best season of his tenure came in 2020 when he led the Cardinals to a 7-1 record, a MAC Championship title and an Arizona Bowl victory.

That 2020 campaign was Neu's only winning season as Ball State's head coach.

Sources: Ball State has fired coach Mike Neu, as the Cardinals are 3-7 and Neu has gone 40-63 in nine seasons there. Neu won the MAC title in 2020, which was his only winning season there. He led Ball State to a pair of bowl games in his tenure. pic.twitter.com/AqwGnnzWLp
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 16, 2024

Ball State Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell announced Neu's firing with an official statement on Saturday.

"Coach Neu has poured his heart into the Ball State football program," Mitchell said. "I commend him for his professionalism and the positive team culture he has constructed. His efforts have greatly impacted the lives of hundreds of young men. He has represented the Ball State brand with integrity and class, and I wish him well in future pursuits."

Offensive line coach Colin Johnson will serve as interim head coach as the team searches for its next program leader.

Ball State will finish its 2024 season with matchups against Bowling Green and Ohio.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: