Derek Dooley is fired as football coach at Tennessee

Derek Dooley is out as coach at Tennessee.

The university announced the anticipated firing Sunday after Dooley posted the storied program’s longest run of consecutive losing seasons in more than a century.

Dooley, 44, had a 15-21 record that included an 0-15 mark against top 25 teams. Dooley was 4-19 in Southeastern Conference competition during his three-year tenure and had lost 14 of his last 15 league games.

Dooley had four years left on his contract, which includes a $5-million buyout.

Tennessee, 4-7 overall and 0-7 in the SEC, must beat Kentucky on Saturday to avoid going winless in SEC play for the first time in school history. Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney will serve as the interim coach for the Kentucky game.

Tennessee’s 41-18 loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday guaranteed the Volunteers their third consecutive losing season, which marks the first time they have finished below .500 in three straight years since 1909-11. Tennessee’s loss to Vanderbilt marked only the second time in 30 years that the Volunteers had fallen to their in-state rival.

Dooley’s successor will become the Volunteers’ fourth coach in a six-year stretch. Phillip Fulmer was fired in the midst of a 5-7 season in 2008 and ended his 17-year tenure with a 152-52 record. Lane Kiffin stayed for just one year before USC hired him away.

Miami’s plan uncertain

Miami Coach Al Golden said he has not been told whether the Hurricanes have decided to impose a second straight postseason ban.

Golden spoke with acting Athletic Director Blake James on Sunday, one day after the Hurricanes (6-5) became bowl-eligible with a win over South Florida. The Hurricanes’ compliance practices have been the subject of an NCAA investigation since 2011, and because that inquiry is not complete, it’s possible that Miami may self-impose another ban.

If it does so, Miami would be hoping to lessen the hit of any looming sanctions that could be handed down by the NCAA after the investigation ends.

Beavers win in rout

Sean Mannion passed for 325 yards and four touchdowns, and Oregon State routed visiting California, 62-14, late Saturday night in what could be Jeff Tedford’s final game as the Golden Bears’ coach.

Markus Wheaton had seven catches for 99 yards for the Beavers (8-2, 6-2 Pac-12), who improved to 5-0 at Reser Stadium and will face Oregon in the Civil War next weekend. Terron Ward ran for 128 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Beavers rack up 559 yards of offense.

Isi Sofele had 104 yards rushing for the Bears (3-9, 2-7), who were hampered all season by turnovers, penalties, missed assignments and sloppy tackling.

Tedford, two-time conference coach of the year, has been at California since 2002, but the program has been in decline. The Bears are 15-22 in the last three seasons.