Charlie Weis was relieved of duties as Kansas' head coach, the school announced Sunday morning.
"I normally do not favor changing coaches mid-season," athletics director Sheahon Zenger said in a statement. "But I believe we have talented coaches and players in this program, and I think this decision gives our players the best chance to begin making progress right away."
Weis was just 6-22 in two years and change as the Jayhawks' head coach, and 1-18 in Big 12 play. Kansas dropped its Big 12 opener to Texas on Saturday by a score of 23-0.
"I appreciate what Coach Weis did with several facets of our football program," Zenger continued. "But we have not made the on-the-field progress we believe we should. I believe new leadership gives our coaches and players the best chance to make a fresh start."
Defensive coordinator Clint Bowen will serve as interim head coach.
"I am grateful for the KU fans, alumni and donors who continue to support our coaches and players," Weis said. He will receive a reported $7 million buyout.
Sadly, perhaps the most memorable moment of Weis' tenure in Lawrence was his reference to the 2012 KU team as a "pile of crap" at Big 12 Media Days in 2013. Kansas won just three games against FBS competition under Weis, defeating Louisiana Tech and West Virginia a year ago and Central Michigan earlier this month.
Kansas is the second FBS school to make a coaching change this season, following the resignation of June Jones at SMU.
Weis' replacement will be the third Kansas head coach hired since the end of the 2009 season. After reaching a high-water mark where the Jayhawks went 25-6 from 2007 through the first part of the 2009 season, Kansas is just 11-48 since.