VESTAL, N.Y. (AP) — Binghamton University announced Monday that men's basketball coach Tommy Dempsey is out and assistant Levell Sanders has been named interim coach for next season.
Athletic director Patrick Elliott said in a news release that Dempsey's contract would not be renewed after his nine years at the helm. Sanders, a former star at Seton Hall, joined Dempsey’s staff in June 2019. The school said a search for a permanent replacement would be conducted next year.
Dempsey finishes with a 71-194 record at Binghamton in nine seasons. He was the second America East Conference coach to find out Monday that his contract would not be renewed, joining Albany's Will Brown.
Binghamton (4-14) started the season 1-12, its win coming against eventual regular-season champion UMBC on the road, and finished 4-10 in the conference, ahead of only Maine. The Bearcats closed their season Saturday with a loss at Hartford in the opening round of the conference tournament.
Dempsey arrived at Binghamton in 2012 after seven years at Rider, where he led the Broncs to an average of 19 wins and three national postseason berths. He took over in a crucial moment but could never resurrect a program that had been beset by a recruiting scandal under former coach Kevin Broadus.
The scandal led to the resignations of Broadus and the school's athletic director and the dismissal of six players from the team, which had earned the school's first NCAA Tournament berth after winning the 2009 America East Tournament. The team has not had a winning overall or conference record since, and Dempsey never came close to reaching the .500 mark during his tenure.
Former Temple star Mark Macon succeeded Broadus and coached the team for three seasons, compiling a 23-70 record.
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