The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff released Golden Lion head football coach Maurice “Mo” Forte  and named defensive coordinator Monte Coleman as his successor. 

    Forte, who recently completed his fourth-season at the helm of the Golden Lion football program, was 21-22 during his UAPB tenure. His Southwestern Athletic Conference mark at the University was 19-15 and his 14-year overall coaching record stands at 69-89-1. Last season the Golden Lions finished 8-4 and won the Southwestern Athletic Conference's-Western Division. They were defeated by Alabama A&M in the SWAC championship game last December, 22-13. 

    This past season the Golden Lions, who were preseason favorites to repeat as SWAC-West champions, struggled to a 4-7 overall record and a fourth-place finish in their division. 

    “Mo Forte has worked very hard with the players and dedicated a lot of time in his efforts to build up the UAPB football program,” Arkansas-Pine Bluff athletic director Louis “Skip” Perkins said. “However, it is clear that the football program needs to go in a new direction in its development, and that has resulted in this change.” 

    Coleman, a Pine Bluff, AR native and former All-Pro linebacker with the Washington Redskins, has been a member of the Golden Lion staff since 2003, serving the last two years as Defensive Coordinator. 

    “Monte Coleman is a proven winner, on and off the football field,” Perkins said. “We are extremely fortunate at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff to have a coach with his knowledge, experience and integrity available to lead our football program. We decided a national search was unnecessary considering the coach we were looking for was already on staff.” 

    During his professional football career, Coleman played in four Super Bowls, helping the Redskins win three. He played in 216 games, which is second most in Washington history and his 16 years with the Redskins is also second-most in team history. 

    “I'm excited about this opportunity that Mr. Perkins and Chancellor (Lawrence) Davis have given me,” Coleman said. “We realize the importance of recruiting, so we'll work hard to have a coaching staff in place as quickly as possible.” 

    UAPB opens the 2008 season on Aug. 30 at home against the University of Arkansas at Monticello.