Ray Giacoletti resigns as Drake head coach

Ray Giacoletti has resigned as the head basketball coach at Drake after just three plus years on the job. The Bulldogs are currently 1-7 following a home loss to Fresno State this past Saturday. Drake athletic director Sandy Hatfield Clubb appointed assistant coach Jeff Rutter to the interim head coaching position for the remainder of this season.

Giacoletti, who came to Des Moines with ten years of head coaching experience, ends his Drake tenure with a 32-69 overall record and just 14 Missouri Valley Conference wins. In a press conference Tuesday, the now former head coach said “I think it’s time for a new voice.” He added that he believes that success “will happen at Drake, it’s just not going to be with me.”

The past few years have been particularly difficult due to a slew of player transfers out of the program. After last season, Giacoletti lost two key contributors in Kale Abrahamson and Dominik Olejniczak.