FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Bret Bielema was welcomed to Arkansas by thousands of fans during a Razorbacks basketball game, and in return he promised to deliver the school's first Southeastern Conference football championship.

Bielema's exit came with much less fanfare on Friday when the former Wisconsin coach was fired in a tiny corner office of Razorback Stadium — moments after the Razorbacks ended their disappointing season with a 48-45 loss to Missouri .

"I've never been let go of in my entire life, so this is a first for me," Bielema said while holding back tears several times. "I've had quite a few coaches that have moved on and they always say, whether it's right, wrong or indifferent, that you want to leave the place better than when you got here, and I know that's happened, there's no doubt."

The loss brings an end to a shockingly poor five-year performance from a coach who led the Badgers to three straight Rose Bowl appearances before he was hired at Arkansas following the 2012 season. Bielema ends his tenure with the Razorbacks with an overall record of 29-34 overall, including 11-29 in the ultra-competitive SEC.