Rich Rodriguez's tenure as Michigan's head football coach is officially over.

Michigan athletics director Dave Brandon made the announcement at a news conference Wednesday.



The news comes just a day after rumors swirled Tuesday about the coach's fate, many of which said Brandon has already decided to fire the coach. But Brandon said Wednesday that Tuesday's meeting was purely informational -- as he and Rodriguez looked into the state of the program on many levels.

Ultimately, Brandon felt that a change was needed.

"I have completed a systematic and thorough review of our football program and believe that a change in leadership is necessary," Brandon said, according to the Associated Press. "We have not achieved at the level that I expect."

"I believe this is the best decision for the future of Michigan's football program," Brandon said. "We have not achieved at the level that I expect."

In his three years in Ann Arbor, Rodriguez was 15-22 overall, including a 7-6 campaign in 2010 that ended in a 52-14 loss to Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl. He was 6-18 in Big Ten games in his three years with the Wolverines. Compounding on-the-field struggles were an NCAA infractions case and sanctions from violations of practice and training regulations by Rodriguez's staff. The school was hit with three years probation in the case.

"I don't think Rich Rodriguez has had a peaceful night sleep since he arrived in Ann Arbor," Brandon said. "I think that his three years here ... can somewhat be defined as three years of turmoil. It seems like it was one thing after another. It clearly impacted recruiting. It clearly impacted the positive energy that the team needs to be successful. It created a lot of hardships and a lot of distractions."

Part of the hardships include six straight losses to against rivals Ohio State and Michigan State during Rodriguez's tenure with the Wolverines.

"Rich is a good person and coach," said Brandon, who marked his first anniversary on the job Wednesday. "It's unfortunate that it didn't work out at Michigan, but I'm sure that Rich and his staff will find opportunities at other institutions. I wish Rich and his family all the best in the future."

Brandon said a national search for a new coach will begin immediately. Candidates to take over the program include San Diego State coach Brady Hoke and LSU coach Les Miles, both former assistants at Michigan.

"This is job No. 1," Brandon said. "It's very important that I move as quickly as I possibly can. ... My job is to get the right coach."

Brandon is faced with a quick decision as the team needs a coach before the National Signing Day, which is just under a month away on Feb. 2.

"My timetable is: Go fast, but do it the right way," Brandon said.

Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh has long been rumored to be a candidate for the position, before reports earlier this week said his interest in the job at Michigan has dwindled. Brandon didn't disagree with that, saying he felt Harbaugh was headed to the professional ranks.

"I personally believe Jim Harbaugh is headed to the NFL," Brandon said.

At a news conference for the Cotton Bowl, Miles told reporters that he has had no contact with Michigan and that he was there to "speak about LSU," according to the Associated Press.

"Michigan will be fine. They'll always be Michigan," Miles said.

Talk about the new coach usually centers on it being a "Michigan man," someone such as Hoke or Miles. But Brandon said no matter who the next Wolverines coach is, they simply must understand what the program means to the school, alumni and fans.

"Whether its a Michigan man or not, it's important whoever it is has an understanding of what this place is all about," Brandon said.

-- Tim Gardner

Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimGardner_USAT