Savannah State University football coach Erik Raeburn said he was surprised to find out Friday morning that he has been relieved of his duties after three seasons at the school.

When reached Friday by phone, Raeburn said the decision to fire him was handed down by Mashariki and other SSU administrators during a meeting which took place around 10:45 a.m. Friday on campus.

"I'm still kind of in shock, honestly. I had no idea that was coming," Raeburn told the Savannah Morning News.

"I was caught off guard when I walked (into the meeting with Mashariki). I just had no indication of it before then."

Raeburn, along with his staff, were under the impression that Friday's meeting was to discuss the recruiting budget and strategy.

It wasn't until after the meeting finished just before 11 a.m. when other coaches began hearing the news.

Asked through text message if the university gave him a reason for the firing, Raeburn responded that he was told he was not "meeting program expectations."

The school's interim athletic director, Opio Mashariki, released a statement on Friday afternoon confirming the dismissal of Raeburn effective immediately. He could not be reached for comment.

“We thank Coach Raeburn for his three seasons of service at the helm of the football program and wish him the best in his future endeavors,” Mashariki said in the university's press release.

Raeburn was hired by former SSU Athletic Director Sterling Steward in March 2016.

Steward left his AD position earlier this year to take the same post at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, allowing Mashariki to take over the position in the interim.

Raeburn was 8-23 in three seasons as the SSU leader. His teams went 7-16 inside of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (FCS).

Six of the losses on Raeburn's Tiger resume came to FBS schools, including losses at Miami and at UAB near the beginning of this season.

SSU finished at 2-8 (1-6 MEAC) in the program's final season at the FCS level after the university decided to move back to the NCAA Division II level following the 2018-19 academic year.

The program will likely have to reduce coaching salaries and athletic spending across the board with the move down.

The school announced that defensive coordinator Shawn Quinn (hired by Raeburn before the 2018 season) will be the interim coach moving into the offseason.

Since the conclusion of the season (Nov. 17), several SSU coaches have left for other jobs.

With Raeburn's departure, only Quinn, Russell DeMasi (WR coach), Glenn Davis (CB) and Thomas Sims (DL) remain on the staff.

SSU will need to reduce its total scholarship count from 58 to 36 before the 2019 season in compliance with NCAA Division II rules.