Ding Dong, the witch is dead

[Buzz Killington]

http://blog.al.com/goldmine/2010/03/jeff_lebo_is_out_as_auburn_bas.html

Jeff Lebo is out as Auburn basketball coach
By Charles Goldberg -- The Birmingham News
March 12, 2010, 1:35PM

Jeff Lebo is out as Auburn's basketball coach, according to people familiar with the decision-making process, The Birmingham News is reporting Friday.

Lebo's six-year run with the Tigers ended Thursday night in the SEC Tournament with a 78-69 loss to Florida. Lebo's Auburn record was 96-93 overall, including a 35-61 league mark. The Tigers were 15-17 this year.

He has three years remaining on his contract. His buyout is $1.5 million.

Lebo had two winning seasons in six years, and just one in the SEC.

Lebo enjoyed his best season just last year. The Tigers went 24-12 -- matching the second-most wins in school history -- and 10-6 in the SEC. But there was little follow through this season, even with four seniors in the starting lineup.

The Tigers went 6-10 in the SEC, and, worse, finished 9-6 against non-conference opponents. Central Florida and Sam Houston State beat Auburn for their first-ever wins against an SEC school. Troy beat Auburn for the first time in 11 tries.

Lebo had more success at first two coaching stops. He was 74-42 in four seasons at Tennessee Tech and 40-20 in two seasons at Chattanooga.

Lebo replaced Cliff Ellis at Auburn before the 2004-05 season, but was hurt when several of Ellis' top players left. His first Auburn team finished 14-17. That was followed by records of 12-16, 17-15, 14-16, 24-12 and 15-17.

Another coach will take the Tigers into the new $90-million Auburn Arena next year.

Jeff Lebo at Auburn
Year            Overall  SEC   
2004-05       14-17      4-12
2005-06       12-16      4-12
2006-07       17-15      7-9
2007-08       14-16      4-12
2008-09       24-12      10-6
2009-10       15-17      6-10
---------------------------------------
Total           96-93    35-61

[Saniflush]

It just moved.

[AUsweetheart]

Halledamnlujah.....

[AWK]

Now maybe we can have an offense.

[Snaggletiger]

Word has it that Jacobs is interviewing Franklin The Governor Williams this afternoon.  Sonny Smith endorses him whole-heartedly.

[Lurking Tiger]

When I heard this on da skreets, this is the same thread title that came to mind.

[War Eagle!!!]

Word has it that Jacobs is interviewing Franklin The Governor Williams this afternoon.  Sonny Smith endorses him whole-heartedly.

Did you get this from the skreets?

If so...I believe this shit! I have no clue how he would do. I would rather someone come in that had experience personally, but who knows. It seems to me that we should be able to get some mid-major coach in here that has had some success to open up the new arena.

[chinook]

jay jacobs is still an underlying issue. 

[Saniflush]

It seems to me that we should be able to get some mid-major coach in here that has had some success to open up the new arena.

Wasn't that what Lebo was supposed to be?

[AUChizad]

They need to listen to Sir Charles's input this time.

If not just let him be the coach.

[AUsweetheart]

They need to listen to Sir Charles's input this time.

If not just let him be the coach.

Thank you.
Could kill him for some of the shit that comes out of his mouth about Auburn....but he would have an amazing AND immediate effect on recruiting.

[War Eagle!!!]

Wasn't that what Lebo was supposed to be?

He was pretty green too

[Aubie16]

jay jacobs is still an underlying issue. 

How so?

[Aubie16]

Wasn't that what Lebo was supposed to be?

Well he came from Tennessee-Chattanooga. I'm not sure if they qualify has mid-major.

Anyways...My top two are:
1. Scott Drew
2. Tony Barbee

[AUTiger1]

Well he came from Tennessee-Chattanooga. I'm not sure if they qualify has mid-major.

Anyways...My top two are:
1. Scott Drew
2. Tony Barbee

Not bad.  I also like Brad Stevens.

[Saniflush]

March 12, 2010

Dear Auburn Family,

As most of you know by now, Coach Jeff Lebo will not return as head basketball coach at Auburn University.

I met with Coach Lebo earlier today and informed him that the time had come to move Auburn's basketball program in a new direction. As I shared with Coach Lebo, we deeply appreciate all that he and his staff have done for Auburn, and we wish each of them and their families nothing but the best. Coach Lebo has shown the utmost character, integrity and professionalism throughout his tenure at Auburn. He is and always will be a member of the Auburn Family.

While this was a difficult decision, our goals have not been met. Our basketball program has not made the progress we had all hoped it would make. Auburn ranks 11th out of 12 teams in both total wins and conference wins in the Southeastern Conference over the past six years. We have failed to reach the NCAA tournament each of the past six years, and we have reached the NIT only once. We know that Auburn can compete at a higher level in basketball, because we have done so in the past.

Our top goals as a department are winning and graduating our student-athletes. My responsibility is doing what is necessary to give our student-athletes the best chance to compete at the highest level. That is why a change was made.

While we always will remember and appreciate what Coach Lebo has done for Auburn, we must now turn our attention to the future of Auburn basketball. We will immediately begin the search for a new head coach to lead our program.

We will conduct a deliberate and thorough search driven by what is best for our student-athletes and our basketball program. Rumor and speculation will be rampant in the coming days. As in past searches, much if not most of what you may read or hear will be wrong. We will not refute rumors or comment on who will or won't be considered or who has or hasn't been interviewed. Our sole goal is to find the right man for Auburn.

Judging by recent searches at other schools, this process is more likely to take weeks than days. Rest assured that we are committed to finding a head coach who is the best fit for our team, this department, the Auburn Family and the community. We will find a coach with character and integrity who will always represent Auburn with class and who will energize our basketball program.

The new Auburn Arena demonstrates our commitment to basketball and our belief that we can compete for SEC championships and be a regular participant in the NCAA Tournament. The arena will help us in recruiting, it will give our new coach and our team a better home-court advantage and it will vastly improve the game-day experience for the Auburn Family.

There is no doubt in my mind that the future of Auburn basketball is bright. The Auburn Spirit is as strong as I have ever seen it, and the Auburn Family is as united as it has ever been. Let's continue to pull in the same direction. While we are certain to have our own opinions about how to achieve it, I am confident that we all share the same goal-to make Auburn the best that it can be.

I want to thank all of you for your support of Auburn University and Auburn Athletics. We ask for your patience as we move ahead in the coming days and weeks.

 

God Bless and War Eagle!

Jay Jacobs
Director of Athletics

[Jumbo]

Now I feel a lot better. 

[Godfather]

Chuck "Rifleman" Person....reasons why front page.

www.tigersx.com

[Jumbo]

Mike Anderson or Tony Barbee are on my wish list.

[GenNormanSwinekopf]

Auburn needs a coach who made a name for himself on the SEC courts as a player and understands SEC basketball;  someone who was an impact player for one of the most storied programs in NCAA history and understands the fan culture.

His name is John Pelphrey.

Please, I beg you...hire John Pelphrey so I can take off the  .