Long Beach State head basketball coach Dan Monson is currently fired. He is a lame duck.
And yet, the Beach is one win away from reaching the NCAA Tournament.
Seriously. It is one of the wildest story in sports this year!
Monson, who was hired by the university in 2007, holds an all-time record of 274-272 in 17 years with the program and was named the Big West Coach of the Year four times. Long Beach State made one appearance in March Madness during his tenure, in 2011-12, and received four NIT bids.
This year’s team finished tied for fifth in the Big West at 10-10 to earn a No. 4 seed in the conference tournament. The Beach decided then that it needed new energy. Athletic director Bobby Smitheran met with Monson on March 11. They “agreed to mutually part ways following the conclusion of the season.”
The second half of that sentence is the key here. It was announced that Monson will remain as the coach through the postseason, including the Big West Tournament, but will not return next season.
On behalf of the entire Long Beach State community, I would like to thank Coach Monson for his 17 seasons of service to Beach Athletics and his many contributions to our men’s basketball program. As the all-time leader in career victories, he has positively impacted countless student-athletes to strive athletically and academically, and he leaves our program in great shape to continue our pursuit for championships. We wish the best for Dan, Darci, and the rest of his family as his coaching journey continues.
— Bobby Smitheran
Monson has a chance to make things very awkward for the first-year AD.
The Beach began the 15th college basketball team to knock off the No. 1 seed in their respective conference tournaments on Friday. LBSU took down U.C. Irvine with a 83-79 win in the semifinal round.
Should Monson’s team prove victorious against U.C. Davis on Saturday night, they will go dancing. A coach who is actively fired could be on the sideline in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in 17 years with Long Beach State.
In the words of Jon Rothstein: “Anarchy? Nope. Just College Basketball.”
The funniest outcome here is a Cinderella run. College hoops fans should throw their full support behind Monson!