LOGAN — Utah State athletic director Scott Barnes didn't hide from the reason Brent Guy was fired as the Aggies' football coach.

Despite what he felt was visible progress on the football field, it just wasn't enough to warrant giving Guy a fifth year at Utah State.

"In the end, the lack of any significant or sustainable momentum was the reason," Barnes said Monday at a press conference in Logan explaining the decision to let Guy go. "In addition, progress was undoubtedly made. But progress that translates to wins certainly wasn't there."

Guy, who has compiled a record of just 8-38 with one game left in his USU career, will coach the Aggies against New Mexico State in the season finale in two weeks. At that time, his tenure with the Aggies will be over.

Barnes said he hopes to move quickly in finding a new coach and therefore will limit the search committee to just himself and USU president Stan Albrecht, while consulting with friends, peers and others in the national college football community. Barnes did not give a timeline on when a new coach would be announced because that coach may end up coming from a team still playing. But he would prefer a quick hire if possible.

Though the decision to terminate Guy was not officially made until USU's 45-38 loss at Louisiana Tech on Saturday, Barnes said he has already made contact with a handful of potential coaches.

Possible candidates include former USU coach John L. Smith, Utah assistant coach Gary Anderson, BYU assistant Robert Anae, San Jose State assistant and former USU player Kent Baer as well as former Aggie quarterback and current South Florida assistant Michael 'Chico' Canales.

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