CLEMSON, S.C. -- Officials at Clemson University said that the school’s head football coach Tommy Bowden stepped down from his position on Monday morning.

School officials said Bowden will be replaced by assistant head coach Dabo Swinney on an interim basis.

Clemson University athletic officials held a press conference on Monday to talk about Bowden's decision to leave the school.

During the media event, Bowden only made a brief statement in which he wished Clemson well and said the school had given him a lot during his 10-season stay.

“Terry Don Phillips approached me this morning and we agreed that this is the best solution for the direction of the program,” Bowden said in the statement released before the press conference. “Clemson has been very good to me and my family.”

After Bowden's statement, Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips said he wanted to make it absolutely clear that Bowden was not fired. He said Bowden did a good job on and off the field while he was at Clemson. He said the Tigers football team can still achieve their goals.

"Our backs are against the wall," Phillips said.

Swinney was not in attendance at the press conference.

Clemson Fans React To Bowden’s Departure

Tommy Bowden first “rubbed the rock” in Death Valley 10 years ago. Now, the former head coach has hung up his whistle in Tiger Town as of Monday afternoon.

"(It’s) better for Clemson if you ask me,” said David Cooper, a football fan. “They should've gotten rid of him a long time ago.”

Bowden took the tigers to eight bowl games, but never won the Atlantic Coastal Conference or the ACC. Students around campus seem to have mixed feelings about his departure.

"I don't know if it's so much his fault per-say,” said Tristan Williams, a Clemson student. “Maybe it's the player's fault or the other coaches."

Some students said Bowden brought excitement to the game with Bowden Bowls when the tigers would play against the Florida State Seminoles, headed by his father, legendary coach Bobby Bowden. They said he brought hope of an ACC title early on in his Clemson career and the possibility of a national championship.

"With the amount of talent he's had in the past few years, he should've done a lot more with it," said Brennen Owens, a student and football fan.

The Tigers have not won a national championship title since 1981 and that was under Head Coach, Danny Ford.

Clemson has not won an ACC title since 1991.