Mike Barthelmess is out at Lawrence. His Lawrence teams have won fewer than 15 percent of their games and he is 18-79-1 as a collegiate head coach. Lawrence University file photo

Chris Harris has been named the Lawrence interim head football coach, athletic director Mike Szkodzinski announced on Sept. 8, 2014.

He replaces Mike Barthelmess, who had just begun his third season as the Vikings' head coach when he resigned on Monday. Barthelmess was 3-18 (.143) at Lawrence and 18-79-1 in his career (.188).

Lawrence, which entered the season ranked No. 231 of 244 teams by D3football.com, lost to No. 237 Rockford 34-6 on the road on Saturday. This week the Vikings host No. 244 Maranatha Baptist.

"I was very sorry to learn of coach Barthelmess’ decision to resign as coach," said Lawrence president Mark Burstein. "The most important issue is to ensure that we maintain an excellent experience for our football players, who have dedicated so much to the team and to Lawrence."

Barthelmess' son, Luke Barthelmess, quarterbacked the team last year as a senior. Another son, Isaac, a standout running back in high school, played linebacker this past weekend after the team lost two returning linebackers just before camp opened.

Harris, in his second season at Lawrence, is the co-offensive coordinator and directs the Vikings’ offensive line.  A 2000 graduate of the University of the Cumberlands, Harris came to Lawrence from Manchester where he had coached from 2010 through 2012.

Harris, who was the offensive line coach and director of football operations at Manchester, helped turn around the football program during his three seasons with the Spartans. Manchester won just two games in Harris’ first season, but the Spartans improved that win total to six during the 2012 campaign.