Eastern Washington University announced last Wednesday, May 30, that Mike Burns will not return as head coach of the Eagle men's basketball team next season.
Interim athletic director Michael Westfall, who recently completed his evaluation of the department, made the announcement.
“After taking a fresh look at the program, I felt it was in the best interest of Eastern Washington University that we move in a different direction with the basketball program,” Westfall said in a prepared statement.
“While some have asked about the timing of this move, it is always the right time to do the right thing for Eastern. I am confident we can still attract a top quality coach to lead the basketball team.”
Burns was hired as head coach April 1, 2004. During his three seasons at the helm the Eagles compiled a 38-49 record, including 22-22 in the Big Sky Conference, but finished 2007 with a 15-14 record and missed the conference playoffs for the first time since 1997.
Burns was also with the team as an assistant coach from 2000-2003 under former head coach Ray Giaccoletti, who left after having taken the Eagles to their only NCAA tournament appearance in 2004 to take the head coaching position at the University of Utah.
Burns had two years remaining on a five-year contract. As per the contract he will receive three months of his $95,437 per year salary as severance pay.
Just one week before Burns' dismissal Eastern's sophomore sensation Rodney Stuckey announced he was forgoing his final two years of school in order to enter the National Basketball Association draft.
Stuckey was an All-American athletically and academically; averaging over 24 points per game in each of his two seasons and was named Big-Sky Conference Player of the Year as a freshman.
Westfall said a search for a new men's basketball coach will begin immediately.
The program has already had a number of inquires from coaches up and down the West Coast about the position.
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