West Texas A&M University fired head football coach Mike Nesbitt on Friday afternoon after four seasons at the helm of the Buffs program.

Nesbitt was informed of the news after a meeting with WT Athletic Director Michael McBroom.

The Buffs are coming off a 6-5 season. However, WT missed the NCAA Division II playoffs for a third straight year.

Nesbitt, who was 25-17 overall, said he was grateful for his WT experience, which included four years as head coach and four years as an assistant.

"The last four years have been a lot of fun," Nesbitt said. "I've been part of WT football for eight years total. Even the two years I was gone, I still followed the team and rooted for them. It's been a neat part of my life. It's been exciting."

McBroom discussed the firing of Nesbitt in a statement released by WT and in a news conference that followed.

"After careful consideration and evaluation of our football program, I have made the decision to release Mike Nesbitt as head coach," McBroom said.

"This was a difficult decision, as Mike is a great coach and an even better person. He and his family have been an integral part of WT in many different capacities, and his mentoring of his players has been second to none.

"To his credit, Mike inherited an extremely difficult situation and led the football program admirably with the utmost professionalism.

"He put us on a path to a more stable program and one that operates within the mission of our great university."

Nesbitt was an assistant at WT under Don Carthel from 2007-2010 as the offensive wide receivers coach, quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator.

After stints at Stephen F. Austin State and the University of Houston, Nesbitt returned to WT in the summer of 2013 to be an assistant under Carthel.

After Carthel's firing Aug. 22, 2013, Nesbitt was hired as the interim head coach the same afternoon.

In his first season, Nesbitt led the Buffs to an 11-3 record and an NCAA Division II quarterfinal appearance.

Following the 2013 season, McBroom took the interim tag off Nesbitt, announcing him as permanent head coach.

But the last three seasons didn't go as planned for Nesbitt. His teams never won more than six games in a season. After last year's 6-4 mark, Nesbitt replaced his entire coaching staff. After a 5-3 start this year, the Buffs stumbled down the stretch and lost two of their last three games.

In what turned out to be Nesbitt's finale, WT rallied from a 14-point deficit at Western New Mexico last Saturday, winning 37-30 in overtime. The win boosted WT over the .500 mark.

"I was happy with our teams and what we did," said Nesbitt, who extended WT's streak of winning seasons to 12 during his time at the helm.

"I'm happy for the future. I think there is a lot of good, talented players. We have some quality players. Of course you want to win some more and get to the playoffs. But I thought we did the best we could with some good coaches. I can walk away knowing I'm happy with our teams."

WT has already started searching for Nesbitt's replacement, McBroom said. He said he will not appoint an interim head coach.

"Simply stated, this is a results-oriented business and we have not met the expectations I have for the football program in terms of wins," McBroom said. "I will begin a national search immediately. Our next head coach will be charged with returning our football program to the national playoffs, achieving the team grade point average and graduation rates consistent with the athletic department mission and re-engaging our great fan base as we move into a new era of WT football."

� When hired: Aug. 22, 2013.

� When fired: Nov. 18, 2016.

� Career record at WT: 25-17

� Highlight: Leading the Buffs to the playoffs in 2013.

� Lowlight: Missing playoffs three consecutive seasons.