Virginia Union will not renew the contract of men's basketball coach Willard Coker, who confirmed the decision Saturday. The administration notified him Thursday.
Coker was hired in 2008 to replace legendary coach Dave Robbins, who won 713 games and three national championships with the Panthers.
Coker served as an assistant for 23 years under Robbins and was described as a perfect fit to take over the program.
In three seasons, Coker had a record of 55-25.
In his first season, the Panthers advanced to the NCAA tournament. In the last two, they were eliminated in their first game of the CIAA tournament.
"I'd like to think that was the case, that the teams were pretty good, but people see things different ways," Coker said.
"And we have a degree of tradition at Virginia Union, and it might not have matched up to what they expected."
The school has not yet made an official announcement concerning Coker.
"I'm very grateful for Virginia Union allowing me the opportunity to coach," he said.
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