Mississippi State fired head football coach Joe Moorhead after two seasons, the school announced Friday.

"It is clear the time has come to change the leadership of our football program," Mississippi State president Mark Keenum said in a statement. "Coach Moorhead is a good man, and I have nothing but respect for him. I sincerely wish the very best for him and his wonderful family."

The Bulldogs finished their second year under Moorhead at 6-7 - the school's first losing campaign since 2016 - after going 8-5 in 2018. Their season began with seven players suspended for violating team rules and concluded with quarterback Garrett Shrader unable to play in the Music City Bowl due to a broken orbital bone he reportedly suffered in a fight with a teammate.

Mississippi State lost the game to Louisville for the program's second straight bowl defeat.

Moorhead, 46, was hired after longtime coach Dan Mullen departed for Florida. Moorhead previously had success as a head coach at Fordham, posting a 38-13 record from 2012-15, and served as offensive coordinator for Penn State in 2016 and 2017.