Lingering speculation about the status of Kansas football coach Don Fambrough ended this morning. Fambrough was fired by new athletic director Monte Johnson.
In a statement released by the school’s sports information office, Johnson announced that Fambrough had been relieved of his duties with two years remaining on his contract.
Fambrough’s annual salary is $49,680 and presumably Johnson will honor the contract commitment.
“I made the decision to relieve Don of his head coaching responsibility after careful deliberation,” Johnson said in the statement. “It was my feeling that in order to re-establish confidence in our football program a change was necessary.
“This was a very rough decision to reach,” Johnson continued, “and one that I thought long and hard about. I visited several times with Don and others in the university before finally reaching my decision late Thursday afternoon.”
Reportedly, Johnson told members of the athletic board about his plans at their regular December meeting on Thursday afternoon.
Johnson added that Fambrough “has served the University of Kansas for many years and his loyalty and devotion to his alma mater are exemplary.”
Johnson, who was named AD just last Saturday by KU chancellor Gene Budig, said a search for a new football coach would begin immediately following affirmative action guidelines.
Among the names expected to crop up as possible successors are John Hadl, a former KU aide now with the Los Angeles Rams: John Cooper, another former KU assistant who is now head coach at Tulsa University; and Don Nehlen, head coach at West Virginia.
Apparently, none of the current members of Fambrough’s staff will be considered for the post. Johnson said the staff will remain on salary until June 1, 1983, or until they find other employment.
Fambrough’s future remained uncertain today.
“We would welcome Don Fambrough to continue his involvement with the KU program in a meaningful role,” Johnson stated. “I have suggested that possibility to Don and w will continue to discuss his future.”
Fambrough was non-committal.
“My immediate plans are to assist my staff in every way possible,” Fambrough said in a prepared statement. “My love for the University of Kansas is long-standing and will continue to be strong. I regret ending my association with the university at this time.
“I also regret not being allowed to work with a fine group of young players whom I helped to recruit and coach, and I wish them the greatest success in the future.”
Fambrough, 60, was in his second tenure as KU head coach. His first stint was from 1971-74; his second from 1979-82. His overall record in those eight years was 36-4-5. During that time, he guided the Jayhawks to two bowl appearances – the Liberty in ’73 and the Hall of Fame in ’81.
He was named Big Eight coach of the year in 1981. That season KU had an 8-3 regular season record and finished third in the Big Eight.
Kansas was expected to have another strong season in 1982, but the Jayhawks struggled to a 2-7-2 overall record and tumbled into the Big Eight basement with a 1-5-1 mark. KU’s only victories were against Texas Christian and Iowa State. The ties were with Kentucky and Oklahoma State.
Fambrough, 60, has been employed by the athletic department for 31 years. He spent 19 years as an assistant coach under J. V. Sikes, Jack Mitchell and Pepper Rodgers, eight years as head coach and four years as assistant director of the Williams Educational Fund.
A native of Longview, Tex., Fambrough came here after serving in World War II and played on Kansas’ Orange Bowl team of 1947. Since then, he has spent just four years outside of KU – three as an assistant at East Texas State and one as an aide at Wichita State.