Randy Lee is leaving an NCAA Division II school in Texas to be the head men’s basketball coach at Tennessee Temple University. He officially starts on April 5.

“After an extensive search, I am confident that we have found the right leader for our men’s basketball program,” TTU athletic director John Secord said in a school release. “Randy has firsthand successful experience in the task at hand, and I am confident in his ability to guide our men’s basketball program in the right direction.”

Temple went 3-26 this past season under two interim coaches, Darris Waters and then Stephen Talley, after Patrick O’Grady began the school year as the coach.

Lee, a Lakeland, Fla., native and University of South Carolina graduate with considerable experience as an NCAA Division I assistant coach, spent the last four years directing the men’s team at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in Odessa. The Falcons had their first 20-win season and made the transition from NAIA to the NCAA during that time.

He was the Red River Athletic Conference coach of the year for 2005-06, but it has been tougher going in the Heartland Conference. UTPB was 9-18 this past season.

Lee coached both men’s and women’s basketball at Maine-Machias for two years before taking the UTPB job. His UMM men’s team won the Sunrise Conference both years, won 29 games one season and made its first NAIA national appearance in 13 years and its second ever. The UMM women had a winning record both seasons and reached the conference tournament final one year and the semifinals the other.

Lee helped the Division I University of Maine get to the America East Conference final and previously assisted at Centenary, Delaware State, Towson and Miami. He also worked at Palm Beach Atlantic College, a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association along with Temple, a former NCCAA power.

“I am excited about the opportunity at Tennessee Temple University and look forward to rebuilding the program,” Lee said in Secord’s release. “TTU has a storied winning tradition, and I look forward to being a part of their future.”

Central Florida associate head coach Mike Jaskulski, the Towson head coach when Lee assisted at the Baltmore university, praised Temple’s choice.

“Tennessee Temple has hired one of the brightest and hardest-working coaches in college basketball in Randy Lee,” Jaskulski said. “Expect nothing but success, as he builds a quality basketball program with quality people.”

Added Stan Jones, Florida State’s associate head coach: “Randy has always been one of the bright basketball minds and one of the tireless workers in coaching. There is no doubt he will have TTU contending for championships in the very near future.”