GEORGETOWN, TEXAS — Southwestern University Head Football Coach Joe Austin announced on Monday his decision to retire after an eleven-season tenure with the Pirates. Coach Austin will officially step down on July 26, 2024.
Reflecting on his decision, Coach Austin shared, "After twenty-five years of treasured relationships and memorable moments, I am retiring from college football…" in an announcement Monday night on X.
Coach Austin was appointed as the head coach in 2012, marking the return of football to Southwestern University after a 62-year hiatus. Under his leadership, the Pirates quickly rose to prominence. In just four years, Coach Austin guided the team to win the SCAC championship in 2016, an achievement that included a perfect 6–0 conference record. This accomplishment earned him the SCAC Coach of the Year title and marked Southwestern's first football championship since 1941.
"Since 2012, Coach Joe Austin has been devoted to Southwestern University and to the Pirate football team. Please join me in thanking him for reviving our program and mentoring our players. The Southwestern community wishes him all the best with his retirement from college football. We are grateful for the leadership he has demonstrated both on and off the field," said Southwestern University President Laura Skandera Trombley.
Throughout his tenure, Coach Austin has been instrumental in recruiting and developing top talent, including two All-Americans, seven conference Player of the Year winners, and 108 all-conference selections.
"Joe Austin has been a great representative of Southwestern University and its football program. His 2016 Championship team remains a source of immense pride on campus. He always maintained a clean, well-organized, and competitive program where students worked hard and earned their degrees. We appreciate Joe's cooperation during this transition and wish him well as he embarks on the next chapter of his personal and professional life," said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Ken Ralph.
The Southwestern University athletics administration will announce an interim head coach for the 2024 season soon.
