STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Rick Stansbury says he is retiring after 14 seasons.
At a Thursday press conference, a red-eyed Stansbury said he “thought long and hard about this, but it’s a time to start a new chapter and step away from coaching.”
The 52-year-old Stansbury has led the Bulldogs to a 293-166 record over the 14 seasons, including 11 postseason appearances — but last went to the NCAA tournament in 2009. He averaged more than 20 wins per season and ranks ninth in wins in Southeastern Conference history.
But the Bulldogs collapsed at the end of this season, losing seven of their last nine games. The season ended on Tuesday with a 101-96 loss to Massachusetts in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.
