At Friday’s meeting, Lombardi was both praised and panned for his in-your-face style, in an unusually direct and heated exchange for the LSU governing board, which usually supports appointments and decisions unanimously after working out differences behind the scenes.

Critics said Lombardi has not worked well with chancellors of LSU’s individual campuses or with lawmakers and the governor, who determine state funding to colleges and university institutions. And they said the situation has grown more critical as the state faces continued budget shortfalls that could deepen cuts to public colleges.

“We unfortunately do not have the kind of credibility we need with the administration. We do not have the credibility we need with the rank-and-file legislator,’’ said Steve Perry, a board member from New Orleans, who said the idea of removing Lombardi has been quietly discussed for months.

Lombardi backers said the president’s firing was arranged overnight and surprised them.

“You guys are doing what you’ve been instructed to do. Why don’t you fess up and face it and say what the hell is going on?’’ said board member Alvin Kimble of Baton Rouge, who voted against firing the system president.

Lombardi wasn’t at the board meeting when the vote to remove him was taken. The board immediately voted for an interim replacement: William Jenkins, a former LSU System president and former chancellor of the university’s flagship campus.

As system president, Lombardi oversaw a $3.5 billion network of four university campuses, a law school, medical schools in New Orleans and Shreveport and a network of 10 public hospitals and dozens of clinics across Louisiana. In addition, he is a history professor at LSU’s main campus.