Courtesy of Colorado State Athletics

Colorado State University and head football coach Mike Bobo have mutually agreed to a separation arrangement that will allow the program to seek a new leader for the Rams’ football program, Director of Athletics Joe Parker announced on Wednesday.

Bobo, who recently concluded his fifth year as the program’s head coach, intends to pursue other professional opportunities in coaching.

“I would like to thank Mike Bobo for his professionalism, commitment and efforts in leading our football program for the past five seasons,” Parker said. “He has devoted an innumerable amount of energy to moving Colorado State football forward and fulfilled his promises to developing our student-athletes in every dimension. Mike is an incredible mentor and truly cares about the holistic growth of young people through the sport of football. I’m grateful for Mike’s contributions to our program and have a deep respect for his personal integrity. We wish Mike well in all his future endeavors. He will always be a Stalwart Ram.”

Bobo said: “Unfortunately, the results the last couple of seasons have not been what we wanted. I can assure you this was not a reflection of the commitment and hard work that we all put into the program the last five years. Our players and coaches never quit and fought through the final whistle against Boise State. I am so proud of this entire team and staff for their incredible resolve.”

Bobo added: “I leave Colorado State grateful for the opportunity. It was a pleasure to work for Joe Parker, a true professional. Lainie, my entire family and I will always cherish the time we spent and relationships formed here at Colorado State and in Ft. Collins. We leave a solid foundation here and I truly believe there are great things ahead for the Rams.”

CSU went to bowl games in each of Bobo’s first three seasons as head coach, making him the lone coach in program history to accomplish that feat, but won just seven games over the previous two seasons overall with 2-6 and 3-5 marks in Mountain West play. Overall, the Rams were 28-35 during Bobo’s tenure and failed to win any of the three bowl games during his time leading the program.

Bobo’s tenure as the program’s 22nd head coach also coincided with the opening of Canvas Stadium, Colorado State’s 36,500-seat on-campus stadium, in 2017. The Rams opened the facility in a big way with a dominating 58-27 victory over Pac-12 opponent Oregon State.

Overall, Bobo’s teams left their marks on the offensive record book at Colorado State, and his squads own three of the top-six marks for Total Offense in a season as well as the school record for most yards per game in a season, that coming in 2017 at 492.5 yards per game. His Rams also posted three of the top seven scoring seasons in CSU history and four of the top six marks for passing touchdowns.

Colorado State began the 2019 campaign 1-5 but rallied for a three-game winning streak that put the Rams back into the bowl eligibility conversation at 4-5. However, a three-game slide to close the season, including two games at home, left CSU out of bowl season for a second consecutive season.

A national search for the next head coach of Colorado State’s football program is already underway.