Veteran Texas A&M defensive coordinator has retired as the Aggies' defensive coordinator after serving two years in the position.

Kines, 65, joined Mike Sherman's staff in 2008 after Reggie Herring left the position to join the Dallas Cowboys' staff. The decision came after a mutual decision between Kines and Sherman.

"Joe Kines is a class act in every sense of the word," Sherman said. "At the conclusion of my post-season meeting with Joe Tuesday night, we came to an agreement that this was the appropriate time for Joe to retire."

Kines plans to stay with the Aggies' coaching staff until Sherman hires his replacement.

During an illustrious career as a defensive coach, Kines served three different stints as a defensive coordinator at Arkansas, and also was a defensive coordinator at Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

"God has blessed me so much,” Kines said. “I am a man of faith and family and I feel like it is time for me to retire. I came here to help and I hope I have helped a little. I wish we would have had a little more success. I really want to thank the players because they gave me and the staff everything they had and did everything we asked."

Kines' defense struggled this season, ranking 104th nationally in scoring defense, 107th in total defense and 111th nationally in total defense heading into the bowl games. His defense played well for much of the Aggies' 44-24 loss to Georgia in the AdvoCare Independence Monday night before collapsing in the second half because of poor field position caused by struggling special teams play. It marked the fifth time this season the Aggies yielded as many as 44 points in the game.

But the veteran Kines also was responsible for developing a defense scheme that moved Von Miller to a hybrid "Jack" position where he combined elements of a defensive end and a linebacker. Miller thrived at the new position, leading the nation with 17 sacks during the regular season.

It means that Sherman will be looking for his third defensive coordinator in his coaching tenure with the Aggies.

"Transition is part of life and football,” Sherman noted. “Whether it is players graduating or coaches leaving, you have to adjust and move on. I have no doubt we will attract quality candidates for the defensive coordinator position.”