Southeast Missouri fires coach Samuel after three-win season

Southeast Missouri State has fired football coach Tony Samuel with two years left on his contract after a third straight losing season.

Athletics Director Mark Alnutt announced Samuel's departure on Tuesday. Samuel coached at the Cape Girardeau school for eight years and led the Redhawks to their first Ohio Valley Conference title and an NCAA playoff appearance in the Championship Subdivision in 2010.

Southeast Missouri finished 3-9 this fall, tied for seventh in its conference.

Samuel had a career win-loss record of 31-60. The former Nebraska defensive end was an 11-year assistant under Cornhuskers coach Tom Osborne. He also spent eight years as head coach at New Mexico State.