Hofstra has fired men's basketball coach Mo Cassara, the school announced on Friday. The Pride went 21-12 in Cassara's first season in 2010-11, but the program saw decreasing win totals in each of his two subsequent seasons. The former Boston College assistant followed up the 21-win 2010-11 campaign season with records of 10-22 and 7-25 this past season.
"We are very thankful to Mo Cassara for his hard work and dedication to the Hofstra basketball program over the last three years," said Hofstra athletic director Jeff Hathaway in a statement. "Mo is a tireless worker and has tremendous passion for the game and the students that he coached. I personally want to thank him for his commitment to Hofstra athletics and the university community during his tenure. We wish him the very best."
In December, four players and two starters were dismissed from the team following arrests related to on-campus burglaries. Hard to argue with the decision based on the Pride's W-L record, but I thought Cassara deserved another year to try to turn things around.
Assistant coach Patrick Sellers takes the reins on an interim basis. The school will begin a search for a new head coach immediately. A pair of former Boston College coaches already appear to be on Hofstra's short list:
Early on, it looks like front runners for the next #Hofstra MBB job is Joe Jones, Al Skinner and Seth Greenberg
— Joe Pantorno (@JoePantorno) March 22, 2013
As he has in the past, Skinner gets at least one ringing endorsement.
Hofstra has fired Mo Cassara and Patrick Sellers is now the interim head coach. The Pride should look at former BC coach Al Skinner.
— Andy Katz (@ESPNAndyKatz) March 22, 2013