Bart Tatum, the 2001 AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year at Northwest Missouri State University under friend and mentor Mel Tjeerdsma, has resigned from his position as head coach of Missouri Southern State University, the university announced Monday.

Tatum just completed his sixth season in Joplin, compiling a combined 25-39 record, including a 3-7, 2-7 mark this year.

He will stay on as a consultant during the transition period.

"Bart is a man of high moral character who has dedicated the last six years to Missouri Southern and the football program," said Athletics Director Jared Bruggeman. "I, personally, appreciate his dedication, hard work and strength of character over the time I have known him. We wish Bart and his family the best."

Tatum came to Northwest Missouri with Tjeerdsma in 1994 and was with the now legendary coach during their first season, an 0-11 campaign. But he would end up seeing great success in his 12 years in Maryville, first as an offensive line coach, then a recruiting coordinator and eventually as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator, and even if for just a brief time, it looked like the success might carry over into his new role at Missouri Southern.

In Tatum's first year at the helm, the Lions went 5-6 and were within one score in three different losses. The next year, MSSU went 6-5, posting Southern's first winning season since 1997, and again coming within one score of three other losses.

But winning conference games in the ultra-competitive MIAA was always a problem for Tatum, who posted league records of 3-6, 4-5, 2-7, 3-6, 2-7 and 2-7 and finishes his career at Southern with four consecutive seven-loss (overall) seasons.