Miami Hurricanes coach Mark Richt retires from coaching as program sinks into tailspin

Mark Richt retired as University of Miami’s football coach on Sunday, ending a three-year tenure that included an Orange Bowl appearance but a disappointing third and final season punctuated by a humiliating loss to Wisconsin in the Pinstripe Bowl.

Richt, 58, informed athletic director Blake James on Sunday morning that he is “stepping down as the Head Coach of UM Football.”

He said “the decision came after a great deal of thought, discussions with my family, and prayer. This was my decision. The University of Miami has been a part of my life for more than three decades. It shaped me as a young man and provided me with the coaching opportunity of a lifetime. My love for The U is simply great.…