Lengthy Seashore State goes dancing, with a head coach who simply acquired fired.
The 49ers received maybe essentially the most curious NCAA match berth within the nation on Saturday with a 74-70 win over UC Davis within the Huge West championship sport. The win comes solely 5 days after the firing of head coach Dan Monson.
Crucially, the Lengthy Seashore State brass opted to have Monson coach the staff for the rest of the season, which figured to be solely the Huge West match after an 18-14 common season and five-game skid coming into this week. Monson even acknowledged the necessity for a alternative within the assertion saying the “mutual separation”:
“I’m pleased with what now we have achieved on and off the court docket, however it’s time for a brand new voice for this system. I want nothing however one of the best for a particular college and an amazing group of pupil athletes. I’m additionally personally excited for what lies forward for the Monson household and myself.”
As an alternative, the 49ers defeated UC Riverside, UC Irvine and UC Davis in consecutive days to earn this system’s first March Insanity since 2012, as a result of school basketball would not all the time must make sense.
Lassina Traore and Marcus Tsohonis each posted 25 factors in opposition to the Aggies, whereas Aboubacar Traore had seven factors, 13 rebounds and 6 assists.
Monson, who has additionally served as head coach for Gonzaga and Minnesota, is in his seventeenth season as head coach in Lengthy Seashore. He holds a 275-272 report with this system, with just one NCAA match look earlier than this season.
His profession started with success at Gonzaga, reaching the NCAA match in 1999, and he thinks he nonetheless has extra teaching in entrance of him, as he instructed ESPN:
“I acquired the ’99 run at Gonzaga, however, as Mark Few texted me “Why do not now we have a run within the first 12 months and a run within the final?” However I do not suppose that is my final. I really like teaching. I really like groups. I would like a brand new problem. It is life, it is onto the following chapter.”
It appears unlikely Lengthy Seashore State will reverse course even with an NCAA match berth, however Monson would not appear involved with a scenario that’s rising concurrently extra awkward and extra enjoyable:
“God has blessed me with an incredible profession and these children have been superior to educate. When Jim Harbaugh says who’s acquired it higher than him, anyone wants to inform him Dan Monson.”