Lebo fired (confirmed)

[TitanTiger 20,509]

From one of the Auburn Rivals admins:

Reports coming out now that Auburn has fired head basketball coach Jeff Lebo.

http://twitter.com/JHokanson

[rebdawg 5]

From one of the Auburn Rivals admins:

Reports coming out now that Auburn has fired head basketball coach Jeff Lebo.

http://twitter.com/JHokanson

I just got a text alert from al.com announcing that Lebo has been let go.

[TitanTiger 20,509]

Confirmed:

Big changes are in store for Auburn basketball

The Tigers will be opening next season in a new arena and with a new head coach.

One day after ending his sixth Auburn season with a 78-69 loss to Florida in the first round of the SEC Tournament, Jeff Lebo is out as AU’s head coach, a source familiar with the situation confirmed to The Auburn Sports Blog Friday.

An official announcement is expected later this afternoon.

The 43-year old had just two winning seasons in six years on the Plains with an overall record of 96-93 (35-61 SEC).

He had his best season in 2008-9 with a 24-12 record but failed to reach the NCAA Tournament. He followed that up with a 15-17 record this season.

http://theauburnsportsblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/lebo-out-at-auburn.html

[TitanTiger 20,509]

Charles Goldberg confirms it as well

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

Let the speculation begin.

[OldNewby 27]

Here's hoping we're still rooting our Tigers on in tournament play this time next year.

[autigeremt 6,661]

Good move!

[RunInRed 16,454]

School confirms: Jeff Lebo dismissed after six years

Andy Bitter

Auburn just put out a press release confirming Jeff Lebo's dismissal.

Interesting points:

It was, in fact, a dismissal and not a "resignation."

This quote by athletics director Jay Jacobs: "I want to thank Coach Lebo for all that he has done for Auburn University over the past six years. Coach Lebo has worked hard and has always represented Auburn with character, class and integrity. However, we feel like the time has come for Auburn basketball to move in a new direction. We deeply appreciate all that he and his staff have done for Auburn, and we wish each of them and their families nothing but the best."

A search for a replacement will begin immediately.

We expect to speak to Jacobs in a bit. We'll have more information then.

http://wareagleextra.blogspot.com/2010/03/school-confirms-jeff-lebo-dismissed.html

[penguin149 391]

I'm happy and I'm sad...CJL seems like such a great guy..I hate to someone like him get let go. But then again, no improvement under him in the six years he was here. It's gut-wrenching....

[AUdmd07 2]

For once I thought what JJ said was appropriate even if it was generic. Thanks for the time you put in coach and staff, but we simply need to move in a new direction. Hopefully a winning direction.

[RunInRed 16,454]

Dear Auburn Family,

As most of you know by now, Coach Jeff Lebo will not return as head basketball coach at Auburn University.

I met with Coach Lebo earlier today and informed him that the time had come to move Auburn's basketball program in a new direction. As I shared with Coach Lebo, we deeply appreciate all that he and his staff have done for Auburn, and we wish each of them and their families nothing but the best. Coach Lebo has shown the utmost character, integrity and professionalism throughout his tenure at Auburn. He is and always will be a member of the Auburn Family.

While this was a difficult decision, our goals have not been met. Our basketball program has not made the progress we had all hoped it would make. Auburn ranks 11th out of 12 teams in both total wins and conference wins in the Southeastern Conference over the past six years. We have failed to reach the NCAA tournament each of the past six years, and we have reached the NIT only once. We know that Auburn can compete at a higher level in basketball, because we have done so in the past.

Our top goals as a department are winning and graduating our student-athletes. My responsibility is doing what is necessary to give our student-athletes the best chance to compete at the highest level. That is why a change was made.

While we always will remember and appreciate what Coach Lebo has done for Auburn, we must now turn our attention to the future of Auburn basketball. We will immediately begin the search for a new head coach to lead our program.

We will conduct a deliberate and thorough search driven by what is best for our student-athletes and our basketball program. Rumor and speculation will be rampant in the coming days. As in past searches, much if not most of what you may read or hear will be wrong. We will not refute rumors or comment on who will or won't be considered or who has or hasn't been interviewed. Our sole goal is to find the right man for Auburn.

Judging by recent searches at other schools, this process is more likely to take weeks than days. Rest assured that we are committed to finding a head coach who is the best fit for our team, this department, the Auburn Family and the community. We will find a coach with character and integrity who will always represent Auburn with class and who will energize our basketball program.

The new Auburn Arena demonstrates our commitment to basketball and our belief that we can compete for SEC championships and be a regular participant in the NCAA Tournament. The arena will help us in recruiting, it will give our new coach and our team a better home-court advantage and it will vastly improve the game-day experience for the Auburn Family.

There is no doubt in my mind that the future of Auburn basketball is bright. The Auburn Spirit is as strong as I have ever seen it, and the Auburn Family is as united as it has ever been. Let's continue to pull in the same direction. While we are certain to have our own opinions about how to achieve it, I am confident that we all share the same goal-to make Auburn the best that it can be.

I want to thank all of you for your support of Auburn University and Auburn Athletics. We ask for your patience as we move ahead in the coming days and weeks.

God Bless and War Eagle!

Jay Jacobs

Director of Athletics

[DCWarEagle 0]

This is the right move. Lebo seems like a good guy and he always represented Auburn with class, but he just could not get it done in six years. Only two winning seasons, no NCAA tourney bids, etc. I wish he had more success, but after six years it just wasn't happening. He has to be disappointed that he will not get to coach in the new arena, but I can't imagine this came as a big surprise to him. I hope we take our time with this search, pay up if we need to and get a winning coach.

When the next basketball season starts we will have a new coach and a new arena. I really hope we can get the fans in the stands and make the program a bigger deal.

Coach Lebo, thank you for your time at Auburn and good luck with your career. Jay Jacobs, please hire us a winner who will still represent Auburn with class. Fans, please come out and support the program next year.