Long Beach State Coach Dan Monson Likely Won’t Return Despite NCAA Tournament Berth
Long Beach State men’s basketball coach Dan Monson faced an unexpected turn of events after leading his team to an NCAA tournament berth. Despite this achievement, Monson was fired last week after 17 seasons at Long Beach State. However, he was allowed to coach through the postseason.
The Beach, finishing the regular season with an 18-14 record, secured a spot in the NCAA tournament by winning the Big West tournament as a four seed. This marked only the second time in Monson’s tenure that the team had reached this level of competition.
The story of Monson’s firing amidst this success quickly spread nationwide. Questions arose about whether the conference title or further postseason success could prompt Long Beach State to reconsider their decision. Unfortunately, an athletics spokesman confirmed that this is not the case, stating that the decision was made with a possible postseason run in mind.
In a televised interview after Long Beach’s victory in the conference title game, Monson expressed gratitude for his career and hinted at seeking new challenges in the future. Despite his impending departure, Monson will receive a $20,000 bonus for winning the conference title, as outlined in his contract.
With 275 wins under his belt, Monson is the winningest coach in Long Beach State history. He has been recognized as Big West Coach of the Year four times and led the team to an NCAA tournament appearance in the 2011-2012 season. Before his time at Long Beach State, Monson coached at Minnesota and Gonzaga.
Financially, Long Beach State reported $2.6 million in men’s basketball expenses in fiscal 2022. While the decision to part ways with Monson was announced as “mutual” by the school, many in the college basketball world view it as a firing.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Monson remains grateful for the opportunities he has had in his coaching career. As he looks ahead to the next chapter, his legacy at Long Beach State will be remembered for his contributions to the program and his dedication to the team.
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