MARQUETTE---Northern Michigan University football coach Shane Richardson has resigned.
This comes with two games left in the season, and after Richardson was placed on administrative leave earlier this week.
NMU athletic director Rick Comley is still refusing to give details on the situation, citing personnel confidentiality. He gave only this opaque statement:
"We are committed to achieving standards consistent with our focus on the success of each of our student athletes. The search for a new head coach will begin immediately."
NMU Assistant Football Coach Joe Gatz was also placed on administrative leave earlier this week, and the university says that the discipline will only be for this weekend. Gatz will be reinstated on Monday.
“He (Gatz) will be part of the coaching staff to prepare the team for their final game of the season against Wayne State University in the Superior Dome at 1pm on November 15,” the university posted on-line Friday afternoon.
NMU has a football game on Saturday in Grand Rapids against Davenport University. Assistant Coach Billy Linquist will serve as interim head coach for this game, as well as for the season finale next week against Wayne State.
Saturday's NMU-Davenport game will be broadcast live on FM-100.3 in Marquette and on FM-93.5/AM-600 in Escanaba.
