Ball State announced the firing of coach Stan Parrish Tuesday afternoon, just three days after he finished his second season as head coach of the Cardinals.
The move was originally reported by multiple media outlets Monday night, but Parrish had down played those reports in an interview with the Ball State Daily News as "rumors."
The firing was announced in a press release, which also said offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner would be the Cardinals' interim coach.
"As we evaluated the on-field performance and the football program in its entirety, we decided it was time for a change in direction in the leadership of the program," athletic director Tom Collins said in the press release. "We have been impressed with the way our student-athletes have carried themselves this season. We have quality student-athletes, and they have continued to battle through a challenging season. We wish Coach Parrish the best as he pursues other opportunities."
Parrish's tenure began when he took over the program after Brady Hoke left Ball State for San Diego State in December 2008. Parrish signed a four-year contract worth $350,000 a year, and coached his first game in the GMAC Bowl, which Ball State lost to Tulsa.
Ball State finished 2-10 in Parrish's first season, and went 4-8 this year.
Many Cardinals reacted to the decision on Twitter. Sophomore tight end Zane Fakes tweeted "Hoping for the best for all my coaches." Senior kicker Ian McGarvey added "It's really easy to throw one person under the bus when [expletive] does not go right. We the players are the reason for our season."