Update, 4:19 p.m.: Austin Peay State University has confirmed that Scotty Walden has resigned as the head football coach as he takes on the position at UTEP.

“I want to thank Scotty, Callie and Luca Walden for their commitment to Austin Peay and the ‘Total Gov Concept’ for the past three years,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison in a news release. “Coach Walden led the Governors to back-to-back conference titles for the first time in program history and took this football program to new heights. I wish him and his family nothing but the best moving forward.

“In the past six seasons, Austin Peay has established itself as one of the top programs in the FCS. We will waste no time and work tirelessly to find a coach who will lead our football program to even greater heights.”

As Walden makes the move to El Paso, Austin Peay Athletics will immediately begin a national search for the 22nd head football coach in program history.

Previously:

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – National media outlets are reporting that Austin Peay State University head football coach Scotty Walden is leaving the Govs for UTEP.

Sources tell FootballScoop that UTEP is planning to make Walden their next head coach. ESPN is also reporting the departure.

The move to the University of Texas at El Paso would elevate Walden from an FCS school to the FBS.

Clarksville Now has reached out to APSU Athletics, and they are not yet commenting on the reports.

Walden, who just finished his third season at Austin Peay, led the Governors through an undefeated run in the United Athletic Conference to claim the league’s inaugural championship.

This season’s Austin Peay squad set a program record by averaging 38.8 points per game during the regular season, breaking the mark set by the 2019 APSU team. The Govs rank ninth nationally in scoring offense and are third among FCS squads in team passing efficiency (165.43) while ranking 10th in total offense (438.3 yards per game).

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About Scotty Walden

When APSU hired Walden in October 2020, he became the youngest active head coach at the Division I level.

He previously served as interim head coach at Southern Mississippi, as offensive coordinator at East Texas Baptist University. During Walden’s tenure with the team, he compiled a record of 22-12, which included a conference record of 13-4.

This article will be updated.