Fine steps down as Bryant football coach

(STATS) - Bryant football coach Marty Fine resigned after 13 seasons, the Northeast Conference university announced Thursday.

Athletic director Bill Smith said in a statement Fine will look to pursue other opportunities.

Fine, 57, had an 80-61 record at Bryant, including 5-6 this season.

The second coach in Bryant history, he guided the Bulldogs for five seasons on the Division II level from 2004-08, tying for Northeast-10 Conference titles and guiding them to their only NCAA playoff appearances in 2006 and '07. They moved to the FCS level in 2009 and have gone 53-47 since, including 31-25 in the Northeast Conference.

Bryant's best record in the FCS was 8-3 in 2014. The Bulldogs were third in the NEC, tying for their highest finish in the conference.

"This has been the best 13 years of my life," Fine said. "There is no better place to work than Bryant University, and while I am excited to pursue new opportunities, this has been the pinnacle of my coaching career. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world."

Offensive line coach Ed Argast will serve as Bryant's interim head coach during the school's national search for Fine's replacement.