KING

Tyrone Willingham

SEATTLE - Washington coach Tyrone Willingham was forced to resign Monday, effective the end of the 2008 season, and as part of his contract will receive a $1 million payout.

During Willingham's regular Monday news conference, he and athletic director Scott Woodward announced Willingham would step down at the end of the year.

When asked if this was his decision, Willingham said flatly, "No."

Asked if he ever considered resigning, Willingham added, "No, it's just not in my makeup."

The embattled Washington coach fell to 0-7 Saturday after a 33-7 loss to his former employer, Notre Dame. Willingham and Woodward had been in discussions for eight days over Willingham's dismissal, but they said no decision was reached until Monday morning. The team was in classes at the time of the announcement and only a limited number of players knew of Willingham's pending departure.

"The obvious is here," said Woodward, seated next to Willingham.

Willingham has been under fire for being unable to turn around the Washington program. He is 11-32 overall in his four seasons with the Huskies. Washington currently has a nine-game losing streak dating back to last season, tied with North Texas for the longest in the country.

Woodward has said he did not want to change coaches during the middle of the season. But he said Monday's announcement ends speculation of what is going to happen with Willingham and lets the team focus on the final five games.

"We didn't win enough football games. That's it," Willingham said after be dismissed for the second time in four years, following his firing at Notre Dame in 2004. "Hopefully, we've done all the other things right (and) it's a good strong program for someone to jump into and do things."