Bearcats Terminate Two Assistants
Tuesday, April 17th, 2012(Vestal, NY) – Binghamton University head coach Mark Macon has confirmed that the contracts of assistant coaches Rob Brown and Julius Smith have not been renewed for next season.
“I have just chosen to go in a different direction with the staff. I wish them both well,” Macon wrote in an e-mail to the Press and Sun Bulletin on Tuesday.
One-Bid Wonders originally learned of the shakeup 26 days ago, hinting at the move via Twitter, but waited to break the story until receiving official confirmation, which came today from the school’s athletic department.
While Macon has stated that the decision was his to make, the word from several sources close to the situation has remained that the decision to turnover the coaching staff came from significantly higher up in the athletic department and was not the head coach’s to make.
The Bearcats are fresh off a 2-29 season which included a 26 game losing streak; made national news; and was not only the worst record in program history, but also the worst season in the history of the America East Conference.
Several sources close to the situation have also indicated that originally, Macon’s entire staff including retained assistant Don Anderson were to be let go, but that Anderson was retained in an attempt to appease the current roster, among whom Anderson is highly popular (several former players have credited Anderson with running the team and holding the program together).
If the decision was not made by Macon, it is an interesting indication of where the head coach stands with new Athletic Director Patrick Elliott. Elliott, who was hired in October, has publicly thrown his support behind Macon — who, along with Anderson, are the last remnants from the Kevin Broadus era scandal. Macon’s contract was extended in February of 2011 through 2014, however, removing a coaches ability to stock his own staff is hardly a vote of confidence.
Word is that the Athletic Department has already reached out to — and received and application from — at least one former Bearcat.