Paul Lusk out after seven seasons at Missouri State

A job has opened in the MVC as Missouri State made the decision to part ways with head basketball coach Paul Lusk after seven seasons. Lusk leaves Springfield with a 106-121 overall record and one postseason appearance (2014 CIT). The 2013-14 campaign was the only 20-win effort by Missouri State under Lusk, with four of seven seasons ending at .500 or worse.

Many had tapped Missouri State as a pre-season favorite in the Valley, but the Bears tied with two other teams for the second worst conference record this season (7-11). Lusk’s team was eliminated from the conference tournament on Friday in a close loss to Southern Illinois.

The next head coach will inherit a team with multiple seniors, but will also be without the top two scorers (and three of the top five) from this season due to graduation.