Marshall won’t renew contract of AD Christian Spears

Change is coming to the athletic department at Marshall.

Athletic director Christian Spears and the school have mutually agreed that they will not be renewing his contract, which expires in March 2026.

Marshall, in a statement Tuesday, said it will begin an immediate search for a replacement for Spears, who was hired in February 2022.

“It has been my honor to serve this incredible university,” Spears said in a statement.

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Spears has overseen a generally successful tenure at Marshall since being hired in 2022. Marshall has been bowl eligible in all three football seasons he has been there.

Spears’ hires included Kim Caldwell in women’s basketball, who has since gone on to coach at the University of Tennessee. Marshall also reached the national final of the men’s soccer college cup in 2024, a notable achievement for a mid-major program. He also oversaw the fundraising and building of a new baseball stadium, which opened in March 2024.

“We are grateful for Christian’s passionate leadership and substantial contributions to Marshall Athletics,” Marshall president Brad Smith said in a statement. “From championship seasons to key facility upgrades, Christian is leaving the athletic department in a strong position. We wish him continued success in his next venture.”

After Marshall won the Sun Belt this year in football and finished 10-3, coach Charles Huff departed for another program in the SBC — Southern Miss. A flurry of transfers followed Huff, which led in part to Marshall opting out of playing in the Independence Bowl.

The Sun Belt fined Marshall $100,000 for the decision, which Spears had said was done “for all the right reasons.”

Spears filled the football job with longtime NC State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson, who has deep ties in the state from two stints at West Virginia.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.