Jon Embree was fired as Colorado’s football coach after just two seasons, the school announced Sunday.
The Buffaloes were 4-21 in Embree’s two seasons and went 1-11 this year, which was the worst season in Colorado football history.
Embree apparently thought his job was safe, but was informed late Sunday afternoon by Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn that he was fired, according to the Denver Post.
“I’m disappointed. I’d like to get more of an opportunity but life ain’t fair,” Embree told the Post.
Colorado had had five consecutive losing seasons under former coach Dan Hawkins before Embree was hired.
Embree said he told Bohn that African-American coaches like himself don’t get a lot of opportunities.
“I mentioned that to Mike,” Embree told the Post. “I said, ‘You know we don’t get opportunities.’ At the end of the day, you’re fired and that’s it. Right, wrong or indifferent. Tyrone Willingham was the only one who got fired and got hired again. We get bad jobs and no time to fix them.”
After the 42-35 loss to Utah on Friday, Embree said he had been assured by Bohn that he would be retained.
Embree had three years left on his contract, and Colorodao owes Embree $1.5 million in a buyout.
Colorado president Bruce Benson, Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano and Bohn issued a statement, which, according to the Post, read: “We firmly believe a change in the leadership in our football program is in the best interests of the University of Colorado, particularly given our goal to compete at the highest levels of the Pac-12 Conference. It was a difficult decision, given Jon Embree’s history with CU, and one we arrived at after considerable deliberation. We appreciate his passion and dedication and wish him the best.”