APPLETON, Wis. — A national search is underway for a new head football coach at Lawrence University, athletic director Christyn Abaray announced today.
The Department of Athletics will conduct a thorough and exhaustive search to find a new leader for the football program, Abaray said.
Rob McCarthy wrapped up his five-year career with Lawrence with a record of 9-40. The Vikings were 1-8 this season.
"We believe we will find the right person to lead the football program into contention in the Midwest Conference," Abaray said. "Football has an exceptional history at Lawrence University and has given our student-athletes lasting experiences and memories, along with providing our fans great thrills over the past century of competition. It is our goal for the program to be highly competitive in the conference again."
The hiring of a new coach is expected to be completed within the next month, according to Abaray.
"We want to thank Rob for his years of service to and support of our student-athletes," Abaray said.
Football is the oldest varsity sport at Lawrence with a history that stretches back to 1893. The Vikings have won 16 Midwest Conference championships and an additional six Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Association titles before 1922.
Lawrence football has produced 62 All-Americans, including three-time All-American Scott Reppert, the only player from the Midwest Conference to be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. Other notable names include All-America quarterback Chuck McKee, who led the Vikings to an undefeated season in 1967, and All-America offensive tackle Joe Patterson, who played for Vince Lombardi with the Washington Redskins.
Lawrence was the first team from the Midwest Conference to be chosen to participate in the NCAA Division III playoffs, and the first league school to win a Division III playoff game. The Vikings have won more than 500 games during their storied history.