WHITEWATER, Wis. — University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks head football coach Kevin Bullis announced his retirement Tuesday.

Officials said Jace Rindahl, Warkhawks assistant head coach and defensive coordinator, will step in as interim head coach.

Bullis spent 15 seasons with the team, serving as head coach through eight.

“It has been an honor and pleasure coaching and teaching in the Warhawk football program and UW-Whitewater,” said Bullis in press release. “I will greatly miss the students and staff.”

“Kathy and I have lived truly amazing coaching lives, and it is time for us to live life,” he added regarding he and his wife.

Bullis first joined the football staff in 2008. He started as an assistant, then become head coach in 2015.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, Bullis led the team through the season’s cancellation. He revived them again in 2021 when the action re-started.

Overall, Bullis was 78-13 during his seven competition seasons as head coach. That includes a 45-4 mark in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He ranked third for win percentage among active coaches with at least five seasons in the NCAA.

Bullis also saw the team through many championships. While on staff, the team went to the Stagg Bowl, the NCAA Division III championship game, seven times, winning eleven league titles.

Not only did he help the team but also individual UW-Whitewater players, coaching them to more than 35 All-America honors, six WIAC Player of the Year accolades and nearly 120 all-conference honors.

For three separate years — 2016, 2018 and 2021 — Bullis was selected as the WIAC Coach of the Year.

Keen on balancing academics and athletics, Bullis also led players to six Academic All-America honors.

Getting out in the community was also important to Bullis. Under his leadership, the Warhawk football team logged more than 1,000 hours of community service.

“Kevin is a great coach and an even better person,” said Athletic Director Ryan Callahan in the press release. “The life lessons he taught his student-athletes, coaches and colleagues will continue to be felt for years to come. I’m forever grateful for my time with Coach Bullis and excited for him and his family on his retirement.”

UW-Whitewater officials said they’ll start a national search for the next head coach in 2023.