Just hours before the Week 12 college football slate began, there was a shakeup in the coaching carousel.
According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, the Ball State Cardinals have fired head coach Mike Neu after nine seasons with the program.
Neu finished his tenure with the program with a 40-63 record. His only winning season came in 2020, when Ball State went 7-1 with an Arizona Bowl victory.
They may have earned a MAC championship under Neu (2020), but for the majority of his tenure, the Cardinals struggled to find consistency.
Since the 2020 season, it's been downhill for Ball State. They're currently 3-7 in 2024, heading into Week 12 with back-to-back losses.
Neu began his coaching career as a Ball State graduate assistant in 1994.
After his time as a graduate assistant, Neu held several roles in college football, Arena Football and the NFL.
He spent time with the Carolina Cobras, Nashville Cats, Augusta Stallions and New Orleans VooDoo in the Arena Football League (1998 to 2008), served as the Tulane Green Wave quarterbacks coach (2012 to 2013) and later carried the same role with the New Orleans Saints in the NFL (2014 to 2015).
The Cardinals are currently led by quarterback Kadin Semonza. The first-year starter has produced 20 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and 2,356 yards with a 66.4 completion percentage.
His No. 1 pass catcher this season has been 6-foot-7 tight end Tanner Koziol. The Illinois native has recorded seven touchdowns and 724 yards on 79 receptions this season.
While Semonza and the Cardinals are on a bye in Week 12, they'll prepare for their first game without Neu, which is scheduled against Bowling Green in Week 13.
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