John Shulman out as UTC basketball coach

photo UTC men's basketball coach John Shulman looks down as he steps to the podium to give his final press conference Wednesday at McKenzie Arena.
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University of Tennessee at Chattanooga interim athletic director Laura Herron announced today that men's basketball coach John Shulman and the school have agreed to part ways.

Herron said Shulman, who has one year left on his contract, asked for an extension and the school declined. Shulman will be paid the balance of his contract - $138,000 - in monthly increments.

"Coach Shulman did want an extension, and after discussing this with [chancellor-elect] Dr. [Steve] Angle and interim chancellor [Grady] Bogue, we decided that it was not something that we could do for him," Herron said. "Then he asked that he not remain as coach without an extension."

Shulman had a 145-146 record in nine seasons including a 13-19 mark this past season. He led UTC to the Southern Conference tournament titles in 2005 and 2009, vaulting the Mocs into the NCAA tournament.

But UTC has not had a winning season since that 2008-09 season. In addition, season ticket sales dropped from 1,430 in his first season to 841 this past year.

"We needed to make a change to propel the program forward," Herron said. "I think we're leaving the next coach with a good group of student-athletes on this team."

The search for a new coach will begin with UTC advertising the position and laying groundwork to meet state requirements, but the decision will be made by the new athletic director.

"We will be waiting until a new AD is hired before the true process begins," Herron said. "We're not even going to narrow down the selections. We'll let the new AD make those decisions."

See Thursday's Times Free Press for more coverage.

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