As initially reported here last week, multiple sources close to the situation have confirmed to Ridge Writer that football coach Mo Forte has been released by Arkansas-Pine Bluff just one year after taking the Golden Lions to the SWAC Championship Game.

An announcement from the university is expected today.

UPDATE (Nov 19/12:37 p.m.): Our source tells us that defensive coordinator Monte Coleman will be named interim head coach in a few hours.

UPDATE 2 (Nov 19/3:01 p.m.): Ridge Writer broke the story, and now it has come to pass.  Monte Coleman will be the next head coach of the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions.  Associated Press story on the jump.

Former Washington Redskins linebacker Monte Coleman was introduced as Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s new football coach Monday, the same day Mo Forte was fired.Coleman had been the Golden Lions’ defensive coordinator. Forte just completed his fourth season as UAPB’s coach. He went 21-22 there, including 4-7 this year.

Forte did lead the Golden Lions to the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game in 2006.

Coleman is from Pine Bluff and played college football at Central Arkansas.

(Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)