Larry Brown resigns, Tim Jankovich to take over at SMU
Hall of Fame head coach Larry Brown has resigned from his position at SMU, effective immediately. This clears the way for associate head coach (and coach-in-waiting) Tim Jankovich to take over the team. Brown’s resignation reportedly stems from SMU’s inability to provide him with the kind of long-term contract extension he was seeking.
The resignation also comes on the heels of a rough season for the Mustangs. Brown served a nine-game suspension following allegations of academic misconduct surrounding former SMU player Keith Frazier. The team finished 25-5 (13-5 AAC) but were kept from the NCAA Tournament by a self-imposed postseason ban.
Jankovich has plenty of head coaching experience, leading Illinois State to four NIT berths in five years before leaving to become Brown’s associate head coach in 2012. He also spent four seasons at North Texas and two more at Hutchinson (KS) CC. Jankovich’s assistant coaching career also included stops under Bill Self, Eddie Sutton, Kevin Stallings, Gene Iba and Lon Kruger. Despite the fact that SMU job would eventually go to Jankovich, the sudden nature of today’s change took many by surprise.
