ARCATA — Head football Coach Doug Adkins has resigned from his duties following eight years guiding the Lumberjacks' program, Humboldt State University Athletic Director Dan Collen announced Thursday.

Adkins' responsibilities with the program will end, effective November 30. A nationwide search to find the 15th coach in the 79-year history of HSU football will begin immediately.

“Coaching at Humboldt State has been a great experience,” Adkins said. “It's a wonderful school, with a great football tradition. But it's the right time for a change.”

“Football continues to be a cornerstone of our athletics program at Humboldt State, and is an important link to our community,” Collen said. “As we return to conference play next fall,  the program can benefit from a change of focus and direction. In athletics, that often means a change of leadership.”

Following two years as an independent, the Lumberjacks will begin affiliation with the re-formed Great Northwest Athletic Conference next year.

In eight years at HSU's head coach, Adkins' programs achieved a 33-51 record. In 2006, the Lumberjacks posted a 9-1 season, the third best in HSU football history, but the team suffered through a disappointing 2-8 campaign this fall.

Adkins also served as Humboldt State's defensive coordinator from 1990-94. During that tenure, his defense led the Northern California Athletic Conference in every category, contributing to Humboldt's first NCAC title in 1994. He left HSU to become defensive line coach at the University of Nevada, Reno, returning to assume the head coach position at Humboldt State in the fall of 2000.

“Doug has had a positive impact on hundreds of young men during his service at Humboldt State,” Collen said. “I'm grateful for his long-time commitment to the best interests of our student-athletes and the university.”