Less than a year after announcing a contract extension to its athletic director, Kansas will spend the summer in search of a new one.

Kansas Chancellor Doug Girod fired athletic director Sheahon Zenger, effective immediately, the school announced Monday morning.

Girod cited “progress in key areas has been elusive” when referencing the need for change at the top of the athletic department. Despite continued success with Kansas’ basketball program, the football team is habitually among the worst Power Five programs.

Zenger is, perhaps, known for his failed football coaching hires, most notably Charlie Weis in 2011. Weis’ tenure ended after a miserable 6-22 campaign. Zenger then hired David Beaty, who is 3-33 in his first three seasons. Kansas football coaches had a 10-62 record under Zenger’s seven-year watch.

“Since becoming chancellor, I have spent countless hours with higher education peers and Jayhawks to hear their perspective on KU. A common thread in these conversations is that, as a major public university with national aspirations, we must continue to strive for excellence in all areas — including athletics,” Girod wrote in a letter to colleagues. “As I have said many times, a successful athletics department is inextricably linked to our broader mission as a flagship research university.”

The firing of is abrupt. Girod, in his first year as chancellor, gave Zenger a public backing as recent as November.

“I want to reiterate my confidence in Sheahon and coach David Beaty,” Girod wrote in a statement six months ago. “Nobody denies the challenges we are having on the field, but I maintain my belief that Sheahon and coach Beaty have the right long-term vision and are doing things the right way.”

Prior to that, Kansas, under the direction of former chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little, announced last May it had reached an extension and pay raise agreement with Zenger, increasing his salary from $619,000 to $700,000 through the 2021 season. 

Zenger’s firing was without cause, and Kansas owes him $1.42 million ($700,000 base salary plus insurance premiums), according to a university release. Deputy athletics director Sean Lester will serve as Kansas’ interim director.

Beaty’s status at Kansas seems safe, for now. Girod said in his Monday letter he “shared my expectation that (Beaty) will continue recruiting hard and getting his team ready for the season.”

Beaty said, in statement issued Monday, he is grateful for Zenger giving him the opportunity to coach the Jayhawks.

“Althought this is a tough day, we will move forward as a program and continue to keep all of our focus on preparing for the season ahead,” Beaty said.