CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte 49ers head football coach Brad Lambert will not be retained after this season.

In a statement, UNC Charlotte Director of Athletics Mike Hill said:

"It is a decision I made after an opportunity to assess my first football season here. It’s about the trajectory of the program and putting us in the best position for the future. We elected to make this decision now so that we could begin the search immediately."

Lambert is the only coach in UNC Charlotte's six-year program history. He compiled a 21-48 record.

Lambert will stay on to coach the team's final game next Saturday against Florida Atlantic, but the school will begin searching for his successor immediately.