Weber State Fires Coach
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – A 25-year streak of reaching the Big Sky Conference tournament was not the only thing halted this season for the Weber State Wildcats.
On Monday, the Wildcats fired head coach Joe Cravens, according to a statement released by the university.
Cravens’ firing comes after the Wildcats lost their final four games of the season to finish 10-17 overall and 4-10 in conference play, giving them a last-place finish in the conference standings. Weber State will miss the conference tournament for the first time since 1981 and only the second time in 31 years. The 10 victories were the fourth-lowest in school history.
Weber State recorded back-to-back losing season for only the third time since the Wildcats started playing at the Division I level in 1962-63.
WSU Athletic Director Jerry Graybeal said in a statement that Cravens, who has two years remaining on his contract, will be reassigned to other duties in the athletic department.
A search committee will be formed within the next few weeks to begin the process of hiring a new coach.
WSU becomes the second Big Sky school this season that will be looking for a new coach for the 2006-07 season.
In January, Idaho State coach Doug Oliver announced he would step down at the end of the season. In addition, WSU becomes the third school in the last two seasons that will look for a new head coach. Portland State hired Ken Bone prior to this season.
Cravens went 116-88 during his tenure, which began in 1999. Cravens led Weber State to its only conference championship and NCAA tournament appearance in 2003.
