Colorado football coach Bill McCartney, who turned around a moribund program and produced a national championship in 1990, resigned on Saturday, moments after Colorado's 41-20 season-ending victory over Iowa State.
McCartney, 54, will coach the Buffaloes through whichever bowl game they appear in, but he urged the administration to quickly appoint a successor so as not to disrupt recruiting."I've been thinking about this for some time now," McCartney said at a post-game press conference, with his wife Lyndi at his side and his family in attendance. "I've been here 13 years. It's time. There are things I want to do as a family.
"This chapter has ended. I don't know quite what's around the corner."
McCartney, the winningest coach in Colorado history with a 92-55-5 record, guided the Buffs to a 10-1 record this season, with a lone loss to No. 1 Nebraska.
"There are no negatives here," he said. "Everybody - from (athletic director) Bill Marolt to the administration - has been tremendous. This has strictly been a very positive situation. We love this place a lot. I don't want to put a damper on what we accomplished here today, but it's time."
McCartney refused to rule out any future coaching ventures.
"I don't know," he said. "I don't anticipate coaching soon, but I don't rule it out."
He did deny speculation that he might be interested in the vacant Michigan State coaching position. "I would put to rest any rumors about going to Michigan State," he said.
McCartney is the founder of Promise Keepers, a Christian men's organization that emphasizes family values.