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Louisville fires Bobby Petrino

Streeter Lecka / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Louisville has announced the firing head coach Bobby Petrino effective immediately, per Jake Lourim of the Courier Journal.

The 2-8 Cardinals currently sit in last place in the ACC Atlantic division and are 0-7 in conference play. They've lost seven games in a row and have surrendered more than 50 points five times in 2018.

"We want to thank Bobby for guiding our football program to some of the better seasons we have had historically at U of L during his two separate tenures here," Athletic Director Vince Tyra said in a statement. "However, at this time we feel the program needs different leadership and we owe it to our student-athletes and fans to get this turned around.

"I did not have the confidence that it was going to happen next season without a change and it needs to start happening now."

Tyra also said he expects to pay Petrino's full $14-million buyout, according to The Athletic's Matt Fortuna.

The firing ends the 57-year-old's second stint with Louisville, as Petrino compiled a 41-9 record with the Cardinals from 2003-2006.

After stops with the Atlanta Falcons, Arkansas, and Western Kentucky, Petrino returned to the school in 2014.

His second spell was not as successful, earning a 36-26 record and just one bowl victory. His squad never surpassed nine wins despite having former Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson commanding the offense.

Louisville plans on hiring a head coach "soon." Current Purdue head coach - and former Cardinals quarterback - Jeff Brohm is the clear-cut No. 1 choice to replace Petrino, according to Stadium Network's Brett McMurphy.

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