Jon Embree, a former Colorado Buffaloes great hired to resurrect his alma mater’s failing football fortunes, was fired Sunday afternoon after a school-worst 1-11 season and a two-year record of 4-21.

The announcement surprised Embree, who said athletic director Mike Bohn had been “consistent” as recently as last week in telling him he would return for a third season despite his record.

“I had a funny feeling this morning,” Embree said in a phone interview Sunday night. “Something told me he’d do this.”

Embree said Bohn told him at about 5:30 p.m. Embree had been planning to head out on the road for recruiting early this week.

“He said he didn’t feel the trajectory of the program was going in the right direction,” Embree said. “I said, ‘What direction was it going when I got hired?’ “

Embree took over for Dan Hawkins, whom Bohn hired and then fired after five consecutive losing seasons. Embree’s 3-10 and 1-11 records extended Colorado’s school record of consecutive losing seasons to seven.

Bohn didn’t return calls seeking comment on the firing but issued a joint statement with university president Bruce Benson and Chancellor Philip Di-Stefano that 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.

“We strive for excellence in all we do, and the university leadership is committed to doing everything we can to ensure success for our football program, for which we are accountable. We thank you, the entire university community, for your support during this challenging season and call upon you to join us in our efforts for a successful transition and future for the CU football program.”

Embree met with his players at 6:30 p.m., followed by Bohn, who declined to comment further.

“I’m disappointed,” said Embree, who is owed a $1.5 million buyout. “I’m mad. I had trouble looking at those kids and seeing their reaction. It’s hard. I loved those kids. I was trying to be an impact on their lives.”

Embree said he felt his young team had promise. Because of attrition from Hawkins’ recruiting classes, Embree had only eight seniors this year and played one of the youngest teams in the nation.

“I thought with our talent and the way the kids matured, and other things, we had a chance to take another step this year,” Embree said.

However, the 11 losses were a school record, and the team finished with the worst defense in school history, allowing 46 points per game.

CU also finished last in the Pac-12 in pass-efficiency defense, rush defense, total defense, pass efficiency and total offense. The Buffs were outscored in their seven conference losses by an average of 50-15. They were the first Colorado team to go winless at home since 1920.

Players reacted with surprise and a little anger.

“I can’t believe it happened,” said senior linebacker Doug Rippy when told the news. “Man, it’s crazy. I had no idea. I didn’t see it coming at all. I don’t think he had enough time to come in and do what he needed to do.”

Senior tight end Nick Kasa disagreed with the administration’s feeling that the program wasn’t moving in the right direction.

“I personally think it’s a mistake,” Kasa said. “Those coaches knew what they were doing, and we were going in the right direction. Our win-loss ratio might not look like it, but the coaches definitely did. We’ve got a lot of young guys on the team playing their first time in college. They’re going to be really good players.

“This jeopardizes this.”

Boosters, however, have peppered the administration with angry letters and e-mails in recent weeks, demanding a change. Many were still surprised at the news, thinking Embree would make changes on the staff but that the head coach was safe.

They were also happy.

“My reaction is that I’m really thankful that Embree, (offensive coordinator Eric) Bieniemy and the group cared enough to come back and fix this thing,” said Brian Riley, moderator of Allbuffs.com, a popular fan website. “I’m saddened that it didn’t work out, but I’m excited about the future because the CU administration shows they’re serious about winning.”

Riley said everyone he talked to Sunday felt the same way.

“The general feeling I have,” he said, “is all the people who were saying they were going to drop season tickets or cut donations are saying they’ll increase them after seeing CU has a vision and is committed to winning football.”

CU’s administration will likely get some heat from the Black Coaches Association. It came down hard on Kansas last year after it fired Turner Gill, an African-American coach who lasted only two years. Embree was one of 14 African-American head coaches in major-college football.

“I mentioned that to Mike,” Embree said. “You know we don’t get opportunities. At the end of the day, you get fired and that’s it, right, wrong or indifferent. (Former Notre Dame coach) Tyrone Willingham was the only one who got fired and got hired again. We get bad jobs and no time to fix it.”

A search for a successor will start immediately. Bohn has mentioned an admiration for Jeff Tedford, considered at one time a quarterbacks guru who was fired at California after an 11-year stint.

Embree and Bohn will appear at a Monday-morning news conference.

“I’ll coach again,” Embree said. “My thing is getting my family right. They’ll be upset. I’ll try to help some of these players through this. We’ll see what happens. I’ve been fired before and had plenty of opportunities.”

Embree was asked how upset he was.

“Trust me, there are so many things I want to say,” he said. “I just don’t want to be that guy. Maybe (Monday) I can say it right.”

John Henderson: 303-954-1299, jhenderson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/johnhendersondp