(St. Louis, MO) – Two of the last three Missouri Valley Conference’s ‘Coach of the Year’ award winners (Barry Hinson and Porter Moser) have been coaches that had been fired from a previous coaching position in the Valley and Saturday, while the Arch Madness semifinals were being played, Paul Lusk joined the list of former MVC coaches.
Lusk, who produced four .500 or better seasons (including the last two) in his seven campaigns at Missouri State was terminated on Saturday. MSU Director of Athletics Kyle Moats said there are season-long criteria by which they monitor each sports programs and then do a postseason evaluation of each program. Fifteen hours after the conclusion of this season, he recommended that Lusk should not return to coach the Bears next year.
“Based on my review, I consulted with President Smart on Friday evening and gave him my recommendation that we make a change in the coaching leadership of our men’s basketball program,” said Moats. “President Smart supported my recommendation. These decisions are never easy. However, we believe it is in the best long-term interest of our men’s basketball program.”
Lusk was highly respected by his Valley peers. Former Missouri State and current Southern Illinois coach Barry Hinson, spoke glowingly of Lusk in his postgame comments after Friday’s game between the teams. Lusk’s seven-year record of 106-121 and 52-74 in league play apparently was his undoing.
A program, relatively free of controversy and one that graduated players, just wasn’t successful enough in wins and losses, for Lusk to return.
“Paul ran our program with integrity,” Moats stated. “Almost without exception, his student-athletes represented the university and the department in a positive fashion. He is a class individual who has always respected and appreciated the history and tradition of Bears Basketball.”
The Bears were the preseason favorite to win the MVC title, but finished tied for seventh with a conference mark of 7-11. Lusk’s teams never finished better than 9-9 in league play. He posted a 5-7 mark in the conference tournament. As with any coaching change there could be player fall out as witnessed by this tweet from Reggie Scurry.
Coach I appreciate everything you have done for me on and off the court. We have had some good times and bad times. I’m going to miss you. The reason I came here is because of you and the staff. Since idk what’s going to happen to the staff my future as a bear is blurry. pic.twitter.com/IQuf6pqbze
— Reggie Scurry (@Scurry_KG) March 5, 2018
In the difficult world of college basketball, many important aspects of a coach’s role go unnoticed. While Ronnie Rousseau did not perform on the court as expected this season, his survival of his personal issues that caused him to leave the team in 2017, only to return and then continue to advance his degree and to grow as a young man, can not be measured in attendance figures and free throw percentages.
Last fall I witnessed Lusk spending time with his young, and mostly African-American players and encouraging them to make smart choices during pressure-packed, socially charged times. He told his own story of being inaccurately ‘profiled’ and how it made him feel and how he needed to react, as an object lesson for his players.
Lusk saw something special in Keith Pickens. ‘Pick’ was an outstanding player coming out of St. Louis. When the one time high-flying Pickens lost his leaping ability with a series of knee injuries, Lusk stood by his team leader. Upon graduation, ‘Pick’ joined Lusk’s staff and by all accounts has a bright future before him.
Those three experiences, out of many performed by a head coach, may never have added to a win total or achieved a conference championship, but coaching is more than just championship banners and victories over ancient rivals.
University Presidents and Athletic Directors have difficult decisions to make and MSU President Clif Smart and Moats made this one. Attendance at Bears’ games is generally down, though this past season attendance improved over the previous season. Now they begin what Moats called a ‘national search’ to find Lusk’s replacement. Lusk will receive a $370,000 buyout for the remaining year of his contract.
Perhaps Lusk needs to work with a more established coach for a while like Hinson did with Bill Self at Kansas and Moser did with Rick Majerus at Saint Louis University. Perhaps Missouri State made a mistake and cut ties with a coach that appeared to be struggling before he turned the program around. Moser was 32-61 in his first three seasons on Chicago. Hinson was 40-57 after three in Carbondale.
Former Bradley coach Jim Les was 40-49 before leading the Braves to four straight postseason runs and five straight winning seasons. After one losing season, he was out and the Geno Ford era on the Hilltop began a run of six seasons where the Braves had one winning record.
Perhaps MSU will land ‘instant gold’ like Wichita State did with Gregg Marshall, or Drake apparently has with Niko Medved.
The ever-classy Lusk thanked the university for the opportunity to coach at MSU.
“I want to thank the athletic department and leadership at Missouri State for the opportunity to coach the men’s basketball program,” said Lusk. “I will always cherish the relationships I’ve built here and the young men who have worked so hard for me and my staff. I wish the university tremendous success moving forward.”
We don’t know how this will turn out for Lusk or Missouri State, but we at ValleyHoopsInsider.com wish them both well, but in the brutal, competitive world of Division 1 basketball there are casualties and this time, a good man, named Paul Lusk was one of those.
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As we near the closing of the portal window, we've reached 1900. Some of them never to play college basketball again, earn a college degree and some to play at a much lower level than they did last season.
I guess we'll be seeing this in a @RacersHoops uniform this year. Glad AJ is staying in the @ValleyHoops.
