Sylvester Croom has resigned as head coach at Mississippi State.

When Croom was hired in 2004, he became the first African-American head coach in SEC history. He won just three games in each of his first three seasons, but he appeared to have the program headed in the right direction in 2007, when he led the Bulldogs to an 8-5 record and a win in the Liberty Bowl.

This season, however, has been a major disappointment, as Mississippi State finished 4-8. Croom’s last game was a 45-0 loss to Ole Miss.

“Five years ago, Mississippi State gave me the unprecedented opportunity to be a head football coach in the Southeastern Conference and to build a program based upon a strong foundation,” Croom said in a statement released by the school. “I want to thank [then-president] Dr. Charles Lee and [then-athletic director] Larry Templeton for that opportunity. I also want to thank the assistant coaches and all the players who had faith and trust in me. We have tried to build a program the right way that can compete for conference championships. I believe the foundation has been set for those goals to be reached under the leadership of someone else, and it was my decision to resign.”