San Diego State Fires Stolz, Names Luginbill as New Football Coach

SAN DIEGO — Denny Stolz, who coached San Diego State to a Western Athletic Conference football championship in 1986, was fired Monday, the school announced.

Al Luginbill, a San Diego State associate athletic director, will take over head coaching duties Nov. 23, athletic director Fred Miller said. Luginbill was the defensive coordinator at Arizona State from 1979-85.

“It’s unfortunate that we didn’t have greater success this season with our football program,” Miller said. “We appreciate the contributions that Denny Stolz has made to our program, but we felt it was time for a change.”

The Aztecs, 58-7 losers to Texas El Paso last Saturday, have a 2-8 record this season and a 15-19 overall mark during Stolz’s 3 years as coach. Stolz will direct the Aztecs in their season finale Saturday at New Mexico.

Stolz then will be reassigned to another post at the school, a move that keeps the athletic department from having to buy out the 3 years remaining on his contract. Stolz, whose career coaching record is 124-93-2, was paid a reported $62,500 a year.