Alabama fires Shula as football coach

1:52 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama coach Mike Shula was fired after a 6-6 season that ended with three straight losses, including a defeat by state rival Auburn.

Athletic director Mal Moore said today that defensive coordinator Joe Kines would serve as interim head coach. A news conference was set for this afternoon, and Shula was to meet with players late this morning.

The firing was first reported by the Tuscaloosa News on its Web site. The newspaper said Shula told his assistant coaches late last night of the dismissal.

Shula, a former Alabama quarterback, led the Crimson Tide to a 10-2 season last year and a Cotton Bowl victory. However, his teams were winless in four tries against Auburn. The Tigers beat the Crimson Tide 22-15 on Nov. 18.

Shula’s firing means Alabama is looking for a head coach for the fourth time since 2000. The Tide has had seven coaches in the 24 years since Paul “Bear” Bryant’s last season in 1982. Bryant directed the Alabama program for 25 years.

Shula took over the proud but troubled program less than four months before the 2003 season after Mike Price was fired following spring practice for his off-the-field behavior — specifically a night of drinking at a strip club in Pensacola, Fla. Price had gotten the job after Dennis Franchione had bolted for Texas A&M.;

Shula, son of Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Don Shula, spent 15 years as an NFL assistant before he took the Alabama job but had no experience as a head coach or on a college staff.

He received a new six-year contract in May worth $1.55 million annually. The deal extended his contract two years through early 2012, with a raise of $650,000 plus a $200,000 signing bonus.

The 41-year-old Shula had a 26-23 record in four seasons with the Crimson Tide.

However, he is the only Tide coach to have lost four consecutive games to Auburn. He came under considerable fire earlier this month when Alabama was stunned by Mississippi State — and former Tide All-American Sylvester Croom, the runner-up to Shula for the Tuscaloosa job in 2003.