Patrick Beilein steps down at Niagara, Greg Paulus named head coach (UPDATED)

Patrick Beilein announced Thursday that he is leaving his position as head coach at Niagara before ever coaching a game. Hired in March after four seasons at D-II Le Moyne, Beilein cited the need to deal with personal issues as the reason for the move.

“It is with heavy regret that I must inform the entire Purple Eagle nation that effective today I have resigned my position as the head men’s basketball coach at Niagara University,” Beilein said in a statement. “In time, it is my hope that I can be more open about my ongoing circumstances, but in the meantime, I thank you all for respecting my family’s need for privacy and for all your continued support.”

Beilein’s father, long-time collegiate and current Cleveland Cavaliers head coach John Beilein, also released a statement on Thursday.

“Kathleen and I love our son, Patrick. We will assist him in every way so he can focus 100% on his personal issues,” he wrote on Twitter. “We believe that with a lot of hard work, he can do it. Thanks for respecting the privacy that Patrick and his family need at this time.”

The school announced that assistant coach Greg Paulus, a former Duke player who has been been a Division I assistant since 2010. He was hired by Beilein in April and will lead a Purple Eagles program that has not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2007.

UPDATE 11/7: Niagara announced Thursday that Paulus had signed a deal to be the head coach on a permanent basis moving forward.

credit to Niagara Athletics/MAAC for the image