Southern Miss fires head coach Will Hall after a 14-30 record

It was announced Sunday that Southern Miss has fired coach Will Hall, ending his tenure with a 14-30 mark over four seasons.

According to his contract, Hall is owed nearly $860,000. The Golden Eagles are 1-6 this season after losing to Arkansas State 44-28 on Saturday.

In his second season at Southern Miss, he posted a 7-6 record, including a win in the LendingTree Bowl. He has since posted a 4-15 record, prompting the government to make a change.

“We are grateful to Will and his family for their commitment to Southern Miss over the past four years,” athletic director Jeremy McClain said in a statement. “Will has put his heart and soul into this program and the training of these young men. Unfortunately, the results on the field did not meet our shared goals and expectations.”

Associate head coach Reed Stringer will take over as interim head coach. The Golden Eagles play at James Madison next week.

Hall received high marks for building culture and recruiting in the region, but he simply couldn't continue on the path he set in his second season.

Hall had two strong head coaching stints at lower levels early in his career, going 25-11 at West Alabama (2011-13) and 31-9 at West Georgia (2014-16).

Southern Miss officials expect the job will attract a strong candidate pool because of its strong tradition and championship aspirations. It is located in one of the most fertile recruiting areas in the country and has a strong fan base.

“Our immediate focus is on two things: first, supporting our student-athletes through the remainder of the season and second, conducting a comprehensive national search to identify the next leader for Southern Miss Football,” McClain said. “This is a proud program with an outstanding history and a premier position in college football. We will find the next leader who will usher us into a new era of championship success.”

The next full-time coach will be the program's fifth since 2012.