Search for new head basketball coach to begin immediately
3/29/2010 5:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HUNTSVILLE - With the departure of Sam Houston State head basketball coach Bob Marlin to take the same position at Louisiana-Lafayette, SHSU director of athletics Bobby Williams is beginning the search for the new coach immediately.
"We want to move very quickly on this," Williams said. "We also want to make sure we make the right choice to lead this program."
The Bearkats are coming off their third Southland Conference Championship in the last 10 years and second NCAA Tournament appearance in the last seven years. The program has been one of the most consistent in the nation over the last five years, winning 20 or more games in four of those years. The Kats have also posted the second best winning percentage in the state of Texas since 2000, behind only the University of Texas.
Two weeks ago in New Orleans, SHSU gave Baylor a strong test in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, before falling to the No. 3-seeded Bears by nine. The Bearkats' other postseason appearance was in 2003 when they lost to a No. 2-seeded Florida team.
"I am extremely proud of what our program has become in the last 12 years," Williams said. "We feel like with our past success and the momentum from the NCAA Tournament, we are in a very good position to hire another quality head basketball coach."
Over the last 12 years, the Bearkats posted a record of 225-130. Over the previous 12 seasons, the Bearkats totaled just 109 wins and 214 losses. The next head coach will be the seventh to lead the Bearkats since moving up to the Division I level and the 19th in the program's 92-year history.
For the 2010-2011 season the Bearkats will return two starters and seven letter-winners off a team that won a Division I school record 25 games.
