The Division III level is experiencing their second head coaching change in as many days, as Joe Austin stepping down at Southwestern (D-III - TX) joins Tommy Zagorski at Otterbein as two late off season coaching changes at the small college level.
Austin led the program since 2012, and announced last night on social media that he's retiring from college football.
In his farewell, he shares:
"For the first time in my adult life I am putting the needs of my aging parents ahead of the needs of administrators, the needs of my wife ahead of the needs of the coaching staff, and the needs of my daughter ahead of the needs of other people’s children. This was a prayerful decision that I am very comfortable with.
"Words cannot express the gratitude I have for all of the coaches and players that have shared this special period of my life with me. God bless you all!"
Austin spent the last 25 seasons coaching in the college ranks and has published a number of books on the Triple Option offense.
His first college head coaching opportunity came at Hanover (D-III - IN), where he took over a program coming off four straight losing seasons.
He spent four seasons with the program, completely rebuilding Hanover, going 7-3 in his third season and finishing second in HCAC play in each of his final two seasons.
After four seasons, he left Hanover with a 17-22 record.
His rebuild at Southwestern has been similar to that at Hanover.
By year four at Southwestern, Austin lead the team to a SCAC title with a senior-heavy group of 31 players. That year he earned SCAC Coach of the Year honors after a 7-3 season.
The wins have not come easy since the team's move to the American Southwest Conference, which annually has up to six teams ranked among the nation's top 25 including the likes of Mary Hardin-Baylor (D-III - TX) and Hardin Simmons (D-III - TX).
Southwestern went a 6-4 under Austin in 2018, but has not managed a winning season since.
This fall, Southwestern will play in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, who recently decided to reinstate football as a conference sport with an automatic bid coming to the Division III playoff no later than 2026.
Before becoming a head coach, the former St. Ambrose (NAIA - IA) quarterback had successful stops as an offensive coordinator at Dubuque (D-III - IA), Augsburg (D-III - MN) and Concordia St. Paul (D-III - MN).
In addition to his experience coaching at the college level, Austin has been one of the most well-traveled American football coaches around. He's represented the Division III all-stars in international competition against Mexico as Team Stars & Stripes offensive coordinator for a handful of seasons to go along with 11 seasons total of international competition as a coach.
As of this morning, there has not been a release from Southwestern on a plan for the upcoming season, an interim head coach, or when a search may take place for the new leader of the program.
The change marks the 24th Division III head coaching change of the off season.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.