Georgia ending Richt’s 15 years as coach with compliments

FILE - In this Nov. 28, 2015, file photo, Georgia head coach Mark Richt celebrates as he walks off the field after his team defeated Georgia Tech 13-7 in an NCAA college football game in Atlanta, Ga. Richt is stepping down after 15 seasons in what is being called a "mutual" decision. Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity says he met with Richt on Sunday morning, Nov. 29, 2015, "to discuss the status of our football program" and "mutually agreed that he would step down as head coach and would have the opportunity to accept other duties and responsibilities at UGA following the bowl game." (AP Photo/Brett Davis, File) FILE - In this Nov. 28, 2015, file photo, Georgia head coach Mark Richt celebrates as he walks off the field after his team defeated Georgia Tech 13-7 in an NCAA college football game in Atlanta, Ga. Richt is stepping down after 15 seasons in what is being called a "mutual" decision. Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity says he met with Richt on Sunday morning, Nov. 29, 2015, "to discuss the status of our football program" and "mutually agreed that he would step down as head coach and would have the opportunity to accept other duties and responsibilities at UGA following the bowl game." (AP Photo/Brett Davis, File)

By Associated Press November 30, 2015 4 min read

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) – Georgia is presenting Mark Richt’s exit as coach as a mutual decision, and Sunday’s announcement came padded with tributes usually reserved for retiring legends.

Glowing compliments for Richt came from University of Georgia president Jere Morehead and athletic director Greg McGarity. Richt has been allowed to remain as coach through the team’s bowl game. New home pages for the athletic department’s Web site were constructed to pay tribute to Richt.

All of Sunday’s warm and fuzzy tributes couldn’t overshadow the fact Richt insisted one day earlier he had plans to be on the job for the immediate and long-term future.

McGarity met with Richt on Sunday morning. Soon after, Georgia announced the news that Richt was out as coach.

McGarity said in a statement released by the school the two “mutually agreed that he would step down as head coach.”