BATON ROUGE – Gerry DiNardo has been relieved of his position as head coach at LSU, it was announced by LSU chancellor Dr. Mark Emmert and athletic director Joe Dean at a news conference on Monday.
DiNardo has chosen not to coach the final game of the 1999 season, a Nov. 26 game between LSU and Arkansas in Tiger Stadium. Assistant head coach Hal Hunter will serve as interim head coach for the final game of the season.
DiNardo will be paid by LSU for the final four years remaining on his contract.
DiNardo came to LSU following the 1994 season and compiled a record of 32-24-1 during his five seasons as the Tiger head coach. He led the Tigers to three straight bowl games from 1995-97 and LSU claimed the co-championship of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference in 1996 and 1997.
But the Tigers fell on hard times the last two years, finishing 4-7 in 1998 and currently holding a record of 2-8 going into the season finale against Arkansas.
DiNardo, who came to LSU after serving as head coach at Vanderbilt University from 1991-94, now has a career coaching record off 51-49-1.