RAYMOND — For only the fourth time this century, Hinds Community College is searching for a new football head coach.

The school announced Tuesday that Larry Williams is stepping down at the end of the semester, after eight seasons as head coach and 17 years total on the staff.

Williams was an assistant at Hinds from 2003-09, and then the defensive coordinator from 2013-17. When longtime head coach Gene Muprhy retired in 2017, Williams succeeded him as head coach.

In a statement announcing the move, Hinds said it will launch a nationwide search for Williams’ successor with the goal of naming a replacement by the end of the year.

“Larry Williams has played a key role in the life of our football program for many years, and he has left an indelible mark on those who have known him,” Hinds President Dr. Stephen Vacik said in the statement. “His commitment to player success both off and on the field has helped so many young men realize their potential and achieve a better life. Though he is stepping away from the program, Coach Williams will always remain a member of the Hinds family, and I thank him for his investment in the mission of our college.”

Williams led Hinds to the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference playoffs in 2017, and a No. 8 national ranking and postseason bowl games in 2019 and 2021. Seventeen players from the 2019 team signed with four-year programs.

Williams had a 38-32 overall record as head coach, but the Eagles struggled the past three seasons. The 2021 season was their last with a winning record as they were just 9-18 since then.

Hinds struggled on offense this season and slumped to a 2-7 record. It scored more than 20 points in only two of its nine games and ranked 13th out of 14 MACCC teams in points (115) and total offense (238.1 yards per game).