Athletic director Kellen Winslow, the Hall of Fame San Diego Chargers tight end, appointed assistant Corey Fuller the team's interim coach.
"This change was necessary at this time to provide new leadership and direction for our students and to ensure that we can have a new coach in place in time to build a staff and begin recruiting," Winslow said in a statement, per the Associated Press.
Holmes took over as acting head coach with two games remaining in the Rattlers' 2012 season and was named the full-time head coach in January 2013. Holmes went 3-9 in 2013 and began the 2014 season 0-5 before winning back-to-back games. But the Rattlers lost 40-21 to MEAC rivals North Carolina A&T Saturday, dropping Holmes' 2014 record to 2-6 and his overall record at his alma mater to 6-16.
With Florida A&M set to host its homecoming game against Norfolk State this weekend, the move was not greeted enthusiastically by the Rattler players. According to a report by the Tallahassee Democrat, the team marched from its field house to Winslow's office to demand a meeting with the AD, and initially canceled Tuesday's practice before electing to proceed with the practice under Fuller at a later time than originally scheduled.
Holmes told the Democrat he was "amazed" at the timing of the school's decision.
"As a Hall of Famer – FAMU Hall of Fame and MEAC Hall of Fame – on homecoming weekend … I don't know," he said.
"This isn't the FAMU I grew up in. I apologize to everybody on behalf of FAMU."
