Lickliter Dismissed, 'Search Begins Today'

By John Campbell, TV9 Sports

(Photo by Jim Slosiarek, The Gazette)

Tools

By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Mar 15, 2010 at 9:34 AM CST

Story Updated: Mar 15, 2010 at 4:29 PM CST

IOWA CITY - Todd Lickliter has been dismissed as head men's basketball coach at the University of Iowa. His firing came four days after the Hawkeyes wrapped up one of their worst seasons ever. Iowa struggled this year with a 10-22 record, the most losses in school history.

The announcement was made during a news conference at 2:30 Monday afternoon at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The school's athletic director Gary Barta said that the search for his replacement "begins today".

Barta says he weighed all the pluses and minuses and came to a decision Monday morning that a change was necessary. Barta says the program's problems don't fall exclusively on Lickliter's shoulders.

"There is a lot of speculation and desire to say whose fault is this? Why hasn't this worked out? You can place some of the blame on me. You can place some of the blame on Todd. You can place some of the blame on bad luck. Where ever you want to go you can probably defend that thought process. In the end, it is my responsibility to create an environment to get this basketball program back on track," said Barta during the Monday afternoon news conference.

Barta informed Lickliter of the decision during a short meeting at 9:00 Monday morning at Carver Hawkeye Arena. The meeting lasted approximately eight minutes. Neither Lickliter nor Barta would comment to reporters at that time. Lickliter returned to the basketball office for about three minutes and then left the building.

Barta called Lickliter a tremendous coach and a tremendous person. Coach Lickliter had four years still remaining on his contract. Barta says they will honor the details.

Barta says the search for a new coach begins immediately and it is likely that it will be someone with head coaching experience.

Lickliter signed a seven-year contract in 2007 for $1.2 million per year. On Monday, Barta said he would honor the contract's buyout agreement that will pay Lickliter $600,000 per year for the next three years, totalling $2.4 million.

WATCH: Monday's News Conference


WATCH: Lickliter's Time at Iowa


Lickliter in Photos:

Follow the buzz on Twitter:


Video Extra: What is Keeping the Hawkeye Men's Basketball Team from Soaring?



Conversation Guidelines

Be Kind

Don't use abusive, offensive, threatening, racist, vulgar or sexually-oriented language.
Don't attack someone personally. Keep it civil and be responsible.

Share Knowledge

Be truthful. Share what you know and what you are passionate about.
What more do you want to learn? Keep it simple.

Stay focused

Promote lively and healthy debate. Stay on topic. Ask questions and give feedback on the story's topic.

Report Trouble

Help us maintain a quality comment section by reporting comments that are offensive. If you see a comment that is offensive, or you feel violates our guidelines, simply click on the "x" to the far right of the comment to report it.


read the full guidelines here »

Commenting will be disabled on stories dealing with the following subject matter: Violent crime, sexual abuse, Amber Alerts, Operation Quickfinds and suicides.

More Good Stuff

What's On KCRG