Indiana U. football coach Bill Lynch has been fired.

IU athletics director Fred Glass said he made the decision this morning, and he announced it at an afternoon press conference. He said the decision was a tough one to make.

“Sometimes the right thing is also the hardest thing to do,” Glass said. “This is one of those times.”

The decision came a day after the Hoosiers ended their 2010 season with a 34-31 overtime victory against rival Purdue in West Lafayette.

IU finished 1-7 in Big Ten play for the third consecutive season under Lynch and lost three games by at least 28 points, including an 83-20 defeat at Wisconsin in which the Hoosiers allowed the most points in school history.

Glass also addressed the future of the program. He said he has a short list in mind of potential replacements.

“We’re prepared to make available the necessary funds to get the person or people that we want,” Glass said.

Lynch’s four-year tenure at IU ended with a 19-29 record and a 6-26 mark in Big Ten play.