Akron fired coach Terry Bowden on Sunday, a day after the team completed a 4-8 season.
Bowden went 35-52 in seven seasons at Akron, but guided the Zips to the MAC East division title in 2017 and bowl appearances in two of the previous three years. On Sept. 15, Akron upset Northwestern, which went on to reach the Big Ten championship game, but went just 2-6 in the MAC.
"Certainly, Terry and his staff have brought respectability to the program over the last seven years," Akron athletic director Larry Williams said in a prepared statement.