[TIMSCAR20]

Man it is tough to see the program in someone else's hands from my viewpoint. Other than Hankinson, I have had a direct connection with the Liberty Head coach for most of 20 plus years. I can just walk into the office and talk without announcing my presence. I don't think that will happen anymore...I'm sad for RD.

[Sly Fox]

The news conference will be coming up within the hour. I'm going ot be driving into work so if some of you guys can transcrive what goes down it would be appreciated.

[Fumblerooskies]

The news conference will be coming up within the hour. I'm going ot be driving into work so if some of you guys can transcrive what goes down it would be appreciated.

Where? I can get out of my office and go.

[SuperJon]

Everyone knows I've had my runins with Coach Dunton. However, we've also had a pretty good relationship other than that. The man can recruit like crazy and knows the game of basketball, and I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that he will have a job as a top assistant very soon. I feel for the family right now and hope that they are able to settle in at a new place very soon. It's tough with children still in high school, and with one getting ready to make a decision about college, but if Randy Dunton has one thing, that's determination, and I'm sure he will have something very soon.

[bigsmooth]

nicely done SJ.

[givemethemic]

I echo that last sentence, I will post my thoughts later, now just isn't a good time

[SuperJon]

Where is the press conference happening at?

[jcmanson]

Scar I know how you feel, but to a smaller degree. I first began following LU hoops my freshman year (02-03) which was Dunton's first. Those first 3 years were so much fun, especially the championship! It will not seem the same with another man at the helm.

Scar I'm sure the new guy in charge will still welcome you with open arms, it might not be the same, but Universities always want to keep their alumni athletes around the current program.

[Chris Lang]

Look for a story on our website (www.newsadvance.com) in the next half hour.

[Fumblerooskies]

Look for a story on our website (www.newsadvance.com) in the next half hour.

Nice tease...
...is the news conference that has been discussed "open?" Where and when?

[paradox]

Tough loss.

Difficult season.

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, and for whatever reason, things just don't work out as planned. It didn't happen for RD this season, but it certainly wasn't due to lack of effort. In my estimation, RD is a class act through and through, and I wish him the best.

His successor inherits a strong core of players and a program that is in a strong position to continue the process of moving forward toward higher accomplishments.

[SuperJon]

No news conference. Press release goes out at 3.

[Fumblerooskies]

No news conference. Press release goes out at 3.

...and how long ago did it break on here?

[SuperJon]

11:30

[Libertine]

11:39AM. We're better than the CIA!

And, Scar, you can always wander in over here.

[Fumblerooskies]

We're better than the CIA!

At finding out information...
...or exposing leaks?

[TIMSCAR20]

Well thanks for the Invite Lib! I do love the new digs over there at the FOC. I know Rocco a litte and of course you, Pete Sudheim, Coach Williams, etc but I am not a football guy of course. I love football and I love Liberty Football but I can't help but feel a void for Liberty Hoops right now.

[Fumblerooskies]

http://www.newsadvance.com/servlet/Sate ... 39018&path

[NJLibertyboy]

http://www.newsadvance.com/servlet/Sate ... 9018&path=

Here is the article. Thanks for the heads up with the News Advance

[Fumblerooskies]

Dunton out as LU men's basketball coach
Falwell pushes national search for new coach

By Chris Lang
clang@newsadvance.com
February 28, 2007

Unsatisfied by the lack of progress in the men's basketball program, Liberty athletics director Jeff Barber dismissed Flames head coach Randy Dunton and his coaching staff today.

The dismissal comes one day after the Flames ended a 14-17 season with a 79-78 home loss to VMI in the quarterfinals of the Big South Conference tournament.

Barber said he gave Dunton an opportunity to resign this morning, but Dunton declined. Barber said Dunton's dismissal was not a knee-jerk reaction to Tuesday night's loss.

"If you want to ask me, when did I feel (this was the right move), then a couple of weeks ago, I had the information I needed to make this move," Barber said. "Last night had nothing to do it."

Had Liberty won the Big South tournament and advanced to the NCAA tournament, it would not have been enough to save Dunton's job, Barber said.

The remaining assistant coaches - Alexis Sherard, Zack Jones and Dominic Okon - will have the opportunity to interview with the new head coach but are not guaranteed jobs. None of the three have expressed initial interest in applying for the head coaching job, Barber said.

Dunton's contract expires Dec. 31. The full terms of the contract, as well as the assistants' contracts, will be honored.

"I have asked the athletic director to conduct a national search and to look for a Danny Rocco-type (LU’s football coach) who can rejuvenate Liberty basketball to the highest level," Liberty Chancellor Jerry Falwell said.

Dunton was in his fifth year of his second stint as Liberty's head coach. He was LU's interim head coach in 1997-98. In those six years, Liberty had only one winning overall record, in 2003-04 when the Flames advanced to the NCAA tournament. He also spent eight years as an assistant coach at LU under former Flames coach Jeff Meyer.

Dunton's career record was 77-102.

Wracked by injuries last year, the Flames went 7-23 and lost by 41 points to Winthrop in the Big South tournament quarterfinals, by far Liberty's worst loss in a Big South tournament game.

Liberty had seven more wins this season and won its last two road games to finish third in the Big South at 8-6 before losing Tuesday.

Dunton's teams finished in the top half of the standings in four of his five years since returning. The Big South has traditionally been one of Division I's weakest conferences, though, ranking in the bottom five of all Division I conferences in RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) in all but one of the last five years.

"I just didn't feel like the program was in the shape it should have been after five years," Barber said. "I didn't believe he was the right person to lead us for the next five years either. I feel like Randy has taken us as far as he can take us.

"I will say this. I appreciate Randy's efforts here. He's worked hard for five years for this program."

Dunton publicly stated several years ago his plans to make Liberty a top 50 program nationally. He never came close to achieving that goal. During his tenure, Liberty never finished higher than No. 165 in the RPI, with the high mark coming during the year LU advanced to the NCAA tournament.

That was Liberty's only top-200 finish during Dunton's tenure. Liberty was ranked No. 316 out of 334 teams last season and No. 281 out of 336 this season.

"Randy Dunton and his family are close friends of mine and I deeply regret that we have to take this step," Falwell said.

For more on this story, see Thursday's edition of The News & Advance.

[mrich]

Just read the article, and Barber sounds like the leader we need in charge of The Flames

[bigsmooth]

nice job chris. it will be interesting to see what happens.

[Fumblerooskies]

This is an amazing comment...

Had Liberty won the Big South tournament and advanced to the NCAA tournament, it would not have been enough to save Dunton's job, Barber said.

[LUconn]

I was just about to post that



there is no way he could have been let go after that. Unless he found out some scandelous information a couple weeks ago.

[bigsmooth]

dont start that stuff! i give barber credit. obviously he knows what we wants, and will do what it takes to make it happen.