TOWSON, Md. – Towson University announced today Gordy Combs has been relieved of his duties as head football coach. A national search will commence immediately to find a successor.

         “It was a difficult decision, but I believe it’s time for Towson football to make a coaching change,” said Mike Hermann, the Towson Director of Athletics. “As a head coach, Gordy has been a first-class representative of the University and has led the program through several league transitions. He and his staff have built a solid foundation for the program at the Colonial Athletic Association level, but we have not had the competitive success that we expect over the past two seasons. We believe it’s time to hand the baton to another head coach to take it to the next level. I want to publicly thank Gordy for his commitment to the Towson football program.”

         Combs leaves the program after 39 years; three as a player, 19 as an assistant coach and the past 17 as the head coach. He compiled a 92-90 record as the Tigers’ head coach.

         This past season the Tigers were 3-9 and 1-7 in the very competitive CAA. Since Towson’s return to scholarship football in 2004 when it joined the Atlantic 10 (now the CAA), the Tigers have posted a 9-31 league record. They were 13-3 against non-conference opponents.

         “We have no timetable to complete the search,” said Hermann, “but plan to do so prudently to find the right person to lead our football program.”

         Towson opens its 2009 season on September 3^rd at Morgan State before traveling to Northwestern, the Tigers’ second Football Bowl Subdivision opponent. After returning home to host Coastal Carolina, the Tigers will end the season with eight straight CAA games.