With discontent building after a disastrous bowl performance, Mark Richt announced an abrupt retirement from Miami on Sunday after just three seasons. 

Richt, 58, said in a statement it was his decision to step aside. 

“My true desire is for our football program to return to greatness, and while terribly difficult, I feel that stepping down is in the best interests of the program,” Richt said. 

Miami athletics director Blake James released a statement Thursday evening after Miami’s 35-3 loss to Wisconsin in the Pinstripe Bowl calling the performance “simply unacceptable to all of us who love The U” but indicating that Richt would be back in 2019 with a chance to get the program back on track. 

Instead, Richt leaves a following a 7-6 season in which Miami regressed offensively and tumbled from No. 8 to out of the polls completely by midseason.