joined Angelo State in 2014,” Reid said. “We look for him to bring those leadership skills to the entire Rams football team.

“Jeff Girsch has coached some outstanding athletes to very successful results since he has been here. Experience shows that he knows how to recruit and lead the Rams to a great future.”

ASU currently has a 6-4 record following three straight wins, including a 34-17 victory over Eastern New Mexico in the Rams' home finale Saturday.

ASU will finish its season on the road against defending national champion Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday, Nov. 10.

Wagner was hired by ASU in 2011 after serving as an assistant coach at Northwest Missouri State for 11 years.

He had strong ties to West Texas as a graduate of Odessa Permian High School who playedon the Panthers' last state championship team in 1991. He was also an All-American defensive back at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene.

Wagner took over an ASU program coming off a 5-5 season, but the Rams remained stuck on the five-win mark in Wagner's first three years, finishing with a 5-6 record each time.

Then the program had a breakout year in 2014.

ASU went 9-3, won the inaugural Lone Star Conference Playoff Championship, and pulled off a wild comeback from a 21-0 deficit to beat Michigan Tech 42-41 in the snow for the Rams' first postseason win since 1997.

ASU's season ended in the second round against eventual national champion Colorado State-Pueblo.

Expectations were sky high in 2015 with numerous starters returning -- including record-setting quarterback Kyle Washington -- but the Rams missed