Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez has been fired by Seton Hall, WFAN Radio in New York is reporting.
The Pirates ended their season in embarrassing fashion last night, losing to Texas Tech in the NIT opener in front of a sparse Prudential Center crowd after leading rebounder Herb Pope was ejected for punching a Red Raider player in the groin. The nature of the loss — and the recent dismissal of forward Robert Mitchell, who was cut from the team after criticizing his coach — may have been the final nails in the coffin.
Gonzalez’ tenure at Seton Hall has been controversial, with the coach drawing criticism for his on-court histrionics and his approach to recruiting.
Several Pirates — including Pope — transferred to Seton Hall from other programs, requesting waivers from the normal transfer rules that were — at best — suspect. Pope requested a “hardship” transfer from New Mexico to Seton Hall so he could be closer to his daughter. The daughter lived in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania — a six-hour drive from the Seton Hall campus.
Another Pirate – guard Keon Lawrence – was suspended for the start of this season after a DUI arrest.
Who’s Next?
Many of the same names that have been associated with the expected vacancy at St. John’s — Iona’s Kevin Willard, Siena’s Fran McCaffery — could be candidates for the Seton Hall job. But another big name could enter the mix — Bob Knight.
Knight’s son Pat — the coach of Texas Tech — floated the idea of his dad coming back to coaching before the Red Raiders the Hall last night, telling SNY’s Adam Zagoria, “If I’m St. John’s or Rutgers, to me, you gotta be an idiot … if you’re an AD or president, it doesn’t hurt to call.“
Rutgers may not be an option; WFAN is reporting that Fred Hill will be back next season.
Bobby Gonzalez Fired by Seton Hall originally appeared on About.com Basketball on Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 at 14:10:21.
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