SPRINGFIELD - Missouri State announced Sunday it will not renew the contract of head football coach Terry Allen after nine seasons leading the program.
Allen compiled a 37-64 record in his tenure at Missouri State. His current contract is set to expire at the end of January.
"We thoroughly evaluate our programs after each season and keep an eye on various factors throughout the year," Missouri State director of Athletics Kyle Moats said during an afternoon news conference. "After reviewing our football program, I consulted president (Clif) Smart and made my recommendation to make a change after this season. He supported that recommendation, which is obviously never an easy one to make.
"From a personal standpoint, Terry has represented our program well during his tenure and has been a vital part of our campus community. We wish nothing but the best for Terry and his family."
A five-person committee has been selected to pare down the field of potential candidates to replace Allen. Smart and Moats will then interview the finalists.
"I'd like to thank Terry for his commitment to Missouri State over the last nine years," said Smart. "His service on campus and in our community made a significant impact."
The Bears opened the season by winning three of their first four games, with the loss coming against Oklahoma State. But Missouri State won just one of its last eight games, including ending the season with its fifth straight defeat Saturday, a 38-24 loss at Northern Iowa.
Missouri State posted just two winning records under Allen, going 6-5 in 2007 and 2009. The Bears were above .500 just once in the Missouri Valley Conference, finishing 5-3 in 2013. Missouri State has not made a postseason appearance since 1990.
Allen is 132-123 overall as a head coach, including stints at Northern Iowa and Kansas. He went 75-26 in eight seasons at Northern Iowa, He took over at Kansas in 1997 and was 20-33 before being fired prior the end of the 2001 season. Allen then served a stint as associate head coach at Iowa State.
Moats also noted the contracts of Allen's assistant coaches and staff will expire at the end of December.