UC football coach Butch Jones resigned today to take the coaching spot at the University of Tennessee.
Jones will not coach the Bearcats in their upcoming bowl game against Duke. UC has named assistant head coach Steve Stripling as interim head coach. Stripling, a 30-year coaching veteran who joined UC in 2010, will lead the team in the Belk Bowl December 27 if a new head coach isn't hired by then.
UC Athletics Director Whit Babcock said the search for a new coach will begin immediately. He did not specify a time frame for concluding the search.
Jones came to UC in December 2009, after then head coach Brian Kelly had gone to Notre Dame. Jones had interviewed with Purdue and Colorado before going to the Tennessee Volunteers.