Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Fordham University has fired men's basketball coach Dereck Whittenburg just five games into the 2009-10 season.

Jared Grasso has been tabbed the interim head coach for the remainder of the campaign.

The Rams are off to a 1-4 start and finished the 2008-09 campaign with 10 straight losses in a 3-25 season.

"We have great respect for Dereck as a coach and person, and appreciate his contribution to Fordham, his integrity and his dedication to the student athletes," said athletic director Frank McLaughlin. "We wish him and his family well."

Whittenburg was in his seventh season at Fordham and compiled a record of 69-112. He was under contract through the 2012-13 season.

"This was a difficult decision, but we felt that we needed a new direction for the basketball program at this time," McLaughlin added. "It's a priority of the university to have a successful program in the competitive Atlantic 10 Conference."

Whittenburg, who also coached at Wagner, is best known for his part in North Carolina State's upset victory in the 1983 NCAA title game against Houston. It was his air-ball shot that Lorenzo Charles slammed home as time expired giving the Wolfpack the win.

Grasso is in his fourth season as an assistant coach with Fordham.

12/03 15:02:09 ET