Former USF coach Seth Greenberg was fired as men's basketball coach at Virginia Tech on Monday, a decision athletic director Jim Weaver said he and basketball administrator Tom Gabbard arrived at last week as they assessed the state of the program.
The discussion came after a second assistant coach in two weeks, and sixth in four years, announced he was leaving Greenberg's staff, this time to take an assistant's job at ACC rival Clemson. Associate head coach James Johnson, a five-year member of Greenberg's staff, was offered a salary matching the one he was to receive at Clemson but still declined.
"Coach Johnson came to my office Friday morning and told me that it had nothing to do with money," Weaver said.
Last week, Rob Ehsan left to become an assistant at Alabama-Birmingham, and he was accompanied by director of basketball operations Jeff Wulbrun, who got an assistant's position at UAB, leaving only John Richardson and Greenberg on the Tech staff.
Other factors, such as Weaver's perception of the way Greenberg and his staff fit into the family atmosphere Weaver tries to promote for all his coaching staffs, also weighed into the decision.
The firing was such a surprise to Greenberg that he was hosting a recruit Monday when the news conference was announced. Asked by the Washington Post what the conference was about, he joked, "I'm still employed, so I don't think it's about me."
Greenberg guided the Hokies to a 170-123 record in nine seasons. They were 16-17 this season, 4-12 in the ACC, and missed postseason play for the first time in six years. Greenberg, who had four years left on his contract, led Virginia Tech to the NCAA Tournament just once, in 2007.
Greenberg was USF's head coach from 1996-2003 before joining the Hokies. He was 108–100 with the Bulls, then a member of Conference USA, and led them twice to the NIT.
BROWN ERA BEGINS: Larry Brown, the only coach to win an NCAA and an NBA title, was formally introduced as coach at SMU, his first college job in nearly a quarter century.
The Hall of Famer, 71, joked about his age and said he looked forward to coaching "quality basketball with quality student-athletes" at a school that has struggled to be relevant. SMU has not won an NCAA Tournament game since 1988.
Brown brushed off questions about how long he would stay at SMU, saying he thought the Mustangs had the resources to compete in the Big East when it joins the conference in 2013.
"When I look in the mirror, I get kind of scared," Brown said. "But inside, I feel like I can do this forever."
UCONN: Michael Bradley and Roscoe Smith were released from their scholarships, allowing them to transfer.
MARYLAND: Prep guard Sam Cassell Jr. signed a letter of intent to play for coach Mark Turgeon. Cassell is the son of former FSU and NBA guard Sam Cassell.
XAVIER: Redshirt junior guard Mark Lyons won't return to the team, now missing four starters from its Sweet 16 squad.
Other sports
BASEBALL: USF (27-14) visits No. 5-ranked Florida (31-9) at 7 tonight in Gainesville. The game will be broadcast on 1010-AM.
FOOTBALL: The Liberty Bowl in Memphis is staying on New Year's Eve and will kick off in the afternoon. … Bail was set at $5,000 for former Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, an NFL draft prospect accused of punching a police officer in Lincoln, Neb., over the weekend. … Kansas sophomore linebacker Collin Garrett and freshman cornerback Chris Robinson were dismissed from the team for violating team rules.
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