Doug Williams says he's been fired by Grambling

USA TODAY Sports

Grambling football coach Doug Williams was fired Wednesday morning.

Williams, 58, said he received a call around 8 a.m. and was summoned to school President Frank Pogue's office. Pogue handed a letter to Williams and told him the school was going in another direction.

A school news release said the remainder of Williams' contract was bought out. He had agreed to a new three-year contract in June 2012 that paid him $250,000 a year.

"There wasn't a lot of conversation. I told him 'OK' and I was gone," Williams said.

The school said running backs coach George Ragsdale will become interim head coach.

"We recognize Doug Williams' many contributions to our football legacy and we express our deep appreciation for his service to Grambling State University and we wish him well in the future," Pogue said.

Through a Grambling spokesperson, athletics director Aaron James declined comment.

This was the second stint as head coach of his alma mater for Williams, who played quarterback for the Tigers under legendary coach Eddie Robinson before becoming an NFL first-round draft pick in 1978.

He succeeded Robinson upon his retirement from coaching in 1997 and was 53-17 with three Southwestern Athletic Conference titles until leaving to take a job as a personnel executive with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the 2003 season.

He returned to Grambling in 2011 and promptly won another SWAC title. But last year the Tigers slumped to 1-10, and they had started this season 0-2. The most recent loss was 48-10 to an FBS program, Louisiana-Monroe. His overall record at the school was 62-33.

Junior D.J. Williams, Doug's son, has started both games this season at quarterback for Grambling. D.J. Williams also appeared in eight games last season.

When asked if he thought he had a short leash just two games into the season, Doug Williams replied, "I was lying if I said I wasn't, but it is what it is."

"He's the president and he has the power," Williams added. "Whatever decision he makes, we have to live with it because that's his decision."

Williams said the only player he's talked to about the firing has been his son.

"I know D.J. is emotional, but I told him he has to be strong and he told me he will," Doug Williams said. "That's all I need for him to be strong. If he's strong, his daddy is going to be all right."

"I'm just going to pretty much handle what has to be handled, and the good part about it is, maybe I get a chance to see D.J. in a different way, as a dad watching his son play. He might be a better player without me being in that position."

Williams had just returned to Grambling on Monday night from a joint news conference in Missouri leading up to Saturday's game against Lincoln (Mo.), which will be played in Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

Contributing: Sean Isabella, The (Monroe, La.) News-Star