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FAU Fires Head Football Coach Charlie Partridge

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BOCA RATON (CBSMiami/AP) — Florida Atlantic University's football team is facing a major shakeup following another disappointing season.

Charlie Partridge is out at Florida Atlantic, after all three of his seasons leading the Owls ended with 3-9 records.

The school made the announcement Sunday, one day after FAU's season ended with a 77-56 loss to Middle Tennessee. The Owls ranked 124th out of 128 teams at the FBS level in total defense this season, giving up more than 500 yards per game.

FAU has not been to a bowl game since making back-to-back appearances under Howard Schnellenberger in 2007 and 2008. Since those bowl years, FAU is 28-67.

"I want to thank Charlie Partridge for putting his heart and soul into Florida Atlantic University for the past three years," FAU vice president and athletic director Patrick Chun said Sunday. "He led our program with integrity and character. Most importantly, he impacted the lives of our student-athletes and that will have a lasting effect."

Partridge had two years remaining on a five-year, $2.7 million contract he signed in 2013.

The Owls lost seven consecutive games at one point this season, including a four-game stretch in which FAU lost each time by six points or fewer.

This was the first head coaching stint for Partridge, a South Florida native who came to the Owls after assistant coaching stints at Drake, Iowa State, Eastern Illinois, Pitt, Wisconsin and Arkansas.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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