Columbia fires football coach Norries Wilson

A day after the Lions earned their only win of the 2011 football season, Columbia athletic director M. Dianne Murphy announced that head coach Norries Wilson "will not be retained," to use the politically correct term.

“Making a decision of this nature is always difficult," Murphy said in a statement. “That said, in order to achieve the goals that we have set for the Columbia football program, we believe that it is necessary and appropriate to make a change in leadership at this time.”

Wilson, who took over at Columbia in December 2005, had a 17-43 overall record with the Lions, going 10-32 in Ivy League play. In his tenure, Wilson did not finish with a winning-record once, and finished 0-7 in Ivy play in 2007. Saturday's win over Brown was the Lions only victory this season.

Midway through the season, Columbia's student newspaper, The Spectator, called for Wilson's firing once the season had concluded. It was the second time in two years that the paper called for his removal.

“Norries has accomplished a great deal in helping us rebuild a stronger foundation for Columbia Football," Murphy said. "We thank him for his tremendous service and wish him the very best in the future. ”

According to Columbia's news release, a search for the next head coach will begin immediately.