The TCU men's basketball team finished a disappointing 12-21 season on Thursday with a loss to West Virginia in the second round of the Big 12 tournament. Today, director of intercollegiate athletics Chris Del Conte announced that Trent Johnson will not return as the Horned Frogs' head men's basketball coach next season.
“Trent Johnson is a man of unbelievable integrity,” Del Conte said. “It's hard to find a better person than Trent, and I have the highest level of respect for him. However, we believe change is needed in the leadership of our men's basketball program. With our new facility and playing in the Big 12, the strongest basketball conference in the country, we're positioned well to have a men's basketball program that makes TCU and Fort Worth proud. Trent inherited a very difficult situation, and we truly appreciated his efforts over the last four years. We simply did not have the success we envisioned but believe the pieces are now in place for us to move forward."
Del Conte is referring to the new Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena, the $72 million Horned Frogs basketball facility, that officially opened at the beginning of this season. But, despite a new facility, the Frogs went on to win only two Big 12 games this season. Johnson's overall record after four years as head coach was just 50-79.
In a press release, TCU said that a search will begin immediately for a replacement. In the meantime, Frogs O' War is speculating on 10 possible replacements.
