Athletic Director Skip Bertman officially announced Friday his decision to fire John Brady as LSU men’s basketball coach. “Yesterday about this time, I met with [Brady] and informed him that LSU, that I decided to make a change in the leadership of the men’s program,” Bertman said shortly after 1 p.m.
Both parties remarked repeatedly that the decision would be friendly and handled respectfully. “Some coaches never show up at the press conference or leave with animosity,” Brady said. “That’s not the case here.” Bertman said Brady is still employed by the University until June 30.
While Brady will not coach the Tigers’ game against Southeastern Conference foe No. 7 Tennessee on Saturday, he will speak to the LSU men’s basketball booster group, the Sixth Man Club, before the game. Brady, who repeatedly paused during the press conference to hold back tears, will also conduct his regularly-scheduled radio show on Monday evening. LSU associate head coach Butch Pierre, now in his 11th season at LSU, took over as interim head coach at Friday’s practice after leading practice Thursday.
LSU currently resides at the bottom of the SEC after finishing last in the SEC West a year ago, but Bertman was complementary of Brady’scharacter and accomplishments. “Football coaches and men’s basketball coaches come every year, but you’ve got to be a man everyday,” Bertman said. “John Brady’s a man. He’s done some great things for LSU.” Brady won the SEC championship twice, earned four NCAA Tournament berths and reached the Final Four once in 10 full seasons at LSU, but the the Tigers are also on pace for their fifth last place finish in the SEC West in 11 years.
“I’ve always heard the cliche about always having three names for a football coach in your top right-hand drawer because [coaching jobs] turn over so quickly,” Bertman said. “No, I didn’t have any names in any drawer for basketball.”
Bertman said that while he does not yet have a list of potential candidates for permanent head coach, the remaining staff would have an opportunity at the position. “We’re setting no boundaries in qualifications for a coach other than saying we committed to being, naturally, a winning team,” Bertman said. “In my mind, that’s a team that would play in the NCAATournament on a regular basis and would annually compete for the championships in the [SEC] West and in the SEC.” Despite the frustrating season, Brady was confident that players returning from injury and a top-15 incoming recruiting class would make the Tigers competitive next year, but it remains to be seen howhis dismissal could affect players’ decisions on where they’ll play next season. Preseason All-SEC junior forward Tasmin Mitchell was uncertain where he would b, when asked whether he would still play at LSU after Brady’s departure. “I can’t really say that right now, but as of right now – yeah, because I still have a home here,” Mitchell said. “But it’s going to be a questionable thing.”