The Arkansas State men's basketball team earned its first victory of the season Monday night, when it beat Lyon College 81-37 at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro. The Red Wolves beating the NAIA Scots wasn't surprising, but what Coach John Brady said afterward was.
Brady, who is in his eighth year as ASU's coach and in the final year of his contract, said in a postgame news conference that this season will be his last as Red Wolves' coach.
Brady, 61, addressed reporters for less than three minutes after the victory before saying, "Regardless of how well we do, this year, this is my last year here."
Brady then spent about four minutes detailing his reasons, saying he spent the past "two or three days" speaking with close friends both in and out of the coaching profession and that he told ASU Athletic Director Terry Mohajir of his intentions earlier Monday. He said he informed his players after the victory and that the decision was made, in part, to avoid forcing Mohajir to make decision on whether to extend his contract.
"I don't want to put Terry in any kind of position where he feels like he can't do what he wants to do," said Brady, who did not take questions after the announcement.
Brady said Mohajir asked him if the season ended with a Sun Belt Tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament, a feat that has eluded Brady at ASU, if his mind would change. Brady said it would not.
"That would be the best way to leave here," Brady said. "I made some good friends here. I think my time here has been fun, has been good. But regardless of what our team, how well it does -- and I think it has an opportunity to do well, I don't think we have bad players, I think we have a collection of good players -- this is going to be my last year here regardless. Terry was supportive of that."
Brady arrived at ASU in 2008 after his firing at LSU, where he won 192 games over 11 seasons and made an appearance in the 2006 Final Four. But Brady has yet to get ASU to the NCAA Tournament. He is 111-110 in eight seasons with the Red Wolves after Monday's victory. He won Sun Belt Conference West Division titles in 2011 and 2013.
Brady, who is 392-326 in his 25th season overall, said the decision was his.
"Terry didn't put any pressure on me," Brady said. "In fact, he said I've coached long enough, won enough games, 'You do it how you want to do it.' So this is how I want to do it."
ASU lost its season opener 79-70 at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Friday night before winning Monday. Donte Thomas and Anthony Livingston each had 10 points for the Red Wolves, while Livingston had 10 rebounds. Eleven Red Wolves scored and they shot 46.9 percent from the field as a team.
Brady said he thinks the Red Wolves can be competitive this year.
"If any of you know me at all, this ain't something that I'm going to sit and watch go by," Brady said. "I'm going to coach them, I'm going to fight it, I'm going to do whatever I think is necessary based on the experiences I can draw from to make this team the best it can be."
Sports on 11/17/2015