Just eight days after seeing his record in trophy games fall to 0-10 at the hands of Wisconsin, Minnesota’s fourth-year head football coach is finally receiving an axe.

But it wasn’t the one he hoped to bring to “Gopher Nation” when he took the job on Jan. 17, 2007.

The rumors can finally be put to rest as the University of Minnesota released a press release Sunday morning saying that Brewster has been relieved of his duties and his contract has been terminated.

In three-plus seasons at the helm, Brewster led the Gophers to a record of 15-30, including a Big Ten mark that slipped to 6-21 after Saturday’s 28-17 loss at Purdue. Minnesota is just 1-6 (0-3 Big Ten) this season and has dropped six consecutive games.

First-year co-offensive coordinator Jeff Horton will serve as interim head coach in Brewster’s place. Horton has experience as a head coach at Nevada and UNLV.

“While I appreciate the passion and commitment that Coach Brewster has shown, it is clear that a change in the leadership of Gopher football is necessary,” athletic director Joel Maturi said in the release. “We have high aspirations for our football program and we are not satisfied with its current direction. The results so far this season have been unacceptable, and the program has simply not shown enough improvement over the past three and a half years to continue with the status quo.”

Maturi said he has had “several discussions regarding the state of the program with University president Robert Bruininks in recent weeks and that the president was in complete agreement with the decision to remove Brewster as head coach,” according to the release.

Maturi told Brewster of the decision earlier Sunday morning.

Brewster will receive a $600,000 buyout in line with the terms of the contract extension he signed in January.