Auburn, AL -- Auburn president Dr. William Walker resigned Friday following criticism over the way he conducted a football coaching search.

Walker, 66, athletic director David Housel and two trustees secretly met with Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino on November 20, just two days before Auburn played arch-rival Alabama.

Tigers' head coach Tommy Tuberville and Louisville officials were not informed of the meeting and Walker was under heavy scrutiny once the public found out about his intentions of finding a new football coach.

"I am hopeful that my decision to step down as president will mark the beginning of a new day at Auburn and that all members of the Auburn family will put aside their differences and work together to refocus Auburn on its true land grant mission of instruction, outreach and research," Walker said in a statement.

Tuberville was eventually awarded a one-year contract extension and guided Auburn to an 8-5 mark and a win over Wisconsin in the Music City Bowl.

"It's been a tough last couple of months for everyone," Tuberville said. "Dr. Walker did a lot of things for athletics. Now, we just need to move on."