UH men's basketball coach James Dickey to step down
Photo By Thomas B. Shea/For the Chronicle
Photo By Karen Warren/Staff
After four seasons, University of Houston men's basketball coach James Dickey plans to step down for personal reasons.
Dickey who turns 60 on April 2, informed school officials, his coaching staff and players of his abrupt decision to resign Monday. He had one year remaining on his contract.
'This has been a difficult decision to make,' Dickey said in a statement released by the university. 'I have a family matter that requires my time and energy, and I will regretfully step down from my current position at the University of Houston.'
UH will begin a national search for a replacement immediately, said Mack Rhoades, vice president for intercollegiate athletics.
Dickey went 64-62 at UH, which included one postseason appearance in the College Basketball Insider tournament in 2012-13. He also spent 10 seasons at Texas Tech and has a career record of 217-196.
'I am extremely grateful for coach Dickey's contributions to our basketball program and our athletics department, both on and off the court, and his decision to step down comes with great heartache for all involved,' Rhoades said in a statement. 'Coach Dickey is not only a great person and coach but a great mentor for all of our student-athletes and entire staff. He made so many of us in our department better. No one has worked harder than coach Dickey, and he leaves the Houston men's basketball program in a much better place. He will be missed greatly by the entire Houston family, and we wish him and his family the very best.'
In the final season under Dickey, UH went 17-16 overall and 8-10 in the inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference. UH beat three top-25 opponents - among them Connecticut, Memphis and SMU - that was the most since 1983-84, and posted a program-best APR of 930.
Rhoades also said the university will begin a national search for a women's coach. Todd Buchanan stepped down in December and was replaced by Wade Scott on an interim basis.
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