FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long fired women’s basketball Coach Tom Collen on Friday, two days after the Razorbacks lost a 10-point lead in the final five minutes and fell to Ole Miss, the 14th-seeded team in the SEC Tournament.

Collen’s seven-year tenure ended after a 63-62 loss to Ole Miss on Wednesday in the first round of the SEC Tournament in Duluth, Ga.

Arkansas (19-11) went 6-11 against SEC opponents after starting the season 13-0 in nonconference games.

Ole Miss (12-20) was 2-14 in conference play and ended its season with a loss to Auburn on Thursday.

The Razorbacks made the NCAA Tournament once in Collen’s tenure and made three WNIT appearances,including a trip to the semifinals in 2011.

“I have come to the conclusion a change in leadership is appropriate for our program,” Long said through a university release. “Our program has not made the progress necessary to position Razorback women’s basketball to challenge for Southeastern Conference championships and consistently compete in the NCAA Tournament.”

Long declined an interview request by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Collen was working under a contract that paid $415,691 per year through March 23, 2016. Under terms of his contract, Collen will be owed approximately $10,000 for the remainder of the current year and $250,000 for each of the next two seasons. That buyout is subject to mitigation if he accepts another coaching position.

Collen also will receive $75,000 as part of a deferred compensation agreement,university spokesman Kevin Trainor said.

Collen was a key assistant coach and recruiter during Gary Blair’s Arkansas tenure, which was highlighted by an NCAA Final Four appearance in 1998. As Arkansas’ head coach, Collen posted a 132-90 record (.595 winning percentage). His record in SEC play was 40-62 (.392).

“I appreciate the opportunity that I have been given at the University of Arkansas, and I’m disappointed my time here is coming to an end,” Collen said in the university release. “I said when I was hired that coming to Arkansas was like coming home, and I still believe that.”

Arkansas’ apex under Collen came during the 2011-2012 season, when the Razorbacks upset No. 6 Tennessee 72-71 in overtime in Knoxville, Tenn .,then received an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Razorbacks defeated Dayton 72-55 for the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory since March 15, 2002, then lost to Blair and Texas A&M 61-59 on the road. Collen was voted SEC coach of the year in 2012.

Collen and his staff, which included his wife, Nicki, brought in a talented class in 2013 that was rated No. 20 in the country by ESPNW.com. The group included forward Jessica Jackson of Jacksonville, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s player of the year in 2013, and guards McKenzie Adams and Kelsey Brooks.

Long said he would begin a national search for Collen’s replacement immediately and that he wouldn’t comment on the search until he had made a hire.

Tom Collen glance AGE 61 HOMETOWN Lancaster, Ohio FAMILY Wife Nicki (a UA women’s basketball assistant), daughters Reese and Logan, son Connor COLLEGE Bowling Green State (1977) OVERALL RECORD 349-160 (.686) in 16 seasons as head coach at Arkansas (132-90), Louisville (88-37) and Colorado State (129-33) ASSISTANT COACHING STOPS Arkansas (1993-97), Purdue (1986-93), Utah (1984-86), Miami University (1981-84)

Year-by-year at Arkansas

SEASON ALL SEC (POS.)

2007-08 17-13 2-12 (11)

2008-09 18-14 6-8 (8th)

2009-10 12-18 4-12 (T-11)

2010-11 22-12 6-10 (T-9)

2011-12 24-9 10-6 (T-4)

2012-13 20-13 6-10 (T-8)

2013-14 19-11 6-10 (T-11)

TOTALS 132-90 40-68

Sports, Pages 21 on 03/08/2014