Texas A&M officially fires Kevin Sumlin

In a move that had been rumored for a couple weeks, Texas A&M announced Sunday afternoon it has officially fired head coach Kevin Sumlin.

Despite having one of the most successful runs in program history, the Aggies fan base grew tired of the team's struggles to compete in the ultra-competitive SEC West.

"Our expectations at A&M are very high," athletic director Scott Woodward said in a statement. "We believe that we should compete for SEC championships on an annual basis and, at times, national championships. I believe that we need a new coach to take us there."

Sumlin posted a 51-26 overall mark in six seasons with the program, but finished 4-4 or worse in SEC play in every campaign but his first. The 53-year-old's 11-2 mark in 2012 is the program's best record since 1998.

According to Mark Schlabach of ESPN, Sumlin is owed $10.4 million that must be paid in the next 60 days. He will still receive the full payout whether or not he takes another job.