BasketballFiringMissouri Valley

Evansville has fired head coach Todd Lickliter and staff

Evansville will let go head men’s basketball coach Todd Lickliter and his staff, the school announced on Thursday. Lickliter was 15-53 in two and a half seasons at the helm.

“I have had the opportunity to meet with Coach Lickliter and it is obvious that he is an outstanding individual who cares greatly for this University and our student-athletes,” AD Kenneth Siegfried said in a release. “Todd and his staff have exemplified the true meaning and purpose of a Purple Ace. We wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.”

On the surface level this change makes sense, as the Purple Aces were 6-24 (2-16) this yar after going 9-15 (7-11) the year prior. Lickliter took over in 2020 when former head coach Walter McCarty was dismissed mid-season. UE lost its remaining 13 games that season to finish 9-23 (0-18).

It’s the timing, however, that may raise some eyebrows. Firing a staff in May is rare in the absence of extenuating circumstances, which seems to be the case here. Coaching staffs and rosters are getting filled out across the country and the transfer deadline for players was May 1, meaning current UE players will need a waiver from the NCAA if they want to leave the school.

Siegfried was hired just two weeks ago and was answering questions about Lickliter’s status from day one. “My goal is to still meet one on one with all of the coaches and staff,” Siegfried said last month. “But it’s very clear to me that there’s a huge passion here for men’s basketball. Success in that will fuel everything.”

 

credit to Brandon Pollock/Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier for the image