Despite improvement, Charlotte fires football coach

Brad Lambert is the only coach in the six-year history of the 49ers' program

After going 1-11 last season, Charlotte coach Brad Lambert led the 49ers to four wins this year (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

CHARLOTTE (AP) — Charlotte will not retain Brad Lambert after this season, moving on from the only football coach the school has had.

Athletic director Mike Hill announced Sunday that Lambert would coach the team’s final game against Florida Atlantic on Saturday, but a search for a new coach will begin immediately.

The 53-year-old Lambert was a longtime assistant coach at Marshall, Georgia and Wake Forest before taking over at Charlotte in 2013. He was 21-48 in six seasons with the 49ers, the first two in FCS and the last four in FBS as a member of Conference USA.

The 49ers were 4-4 after upsetting Southern Miss last month but have lost three straight since to fall to 4-7 and out of bowl contention. Charlotte lost 42-35 at to Florida International on Saturday.