Olive Steps Down at Loyola Marymount

After compiling a 7-21 record this season, John Olive on Wednesday announced his resignation as basketball coach at Loyola Marymount.

The Lions finished last in the West Coast Conference with a 3-11 record. In five years at the school, Olive recorded a 51-88 mark.

“I’d like to thank the university for the opportunity to coach at LMU,” Olive said. “It has been a rewarding five years. I’m very proud of the young men I have coached.”

Athletic Director Brian Quinn said the university has “already begun to target a few candidates for the position, and we hope to move forward as swiftly as possible.”

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Lefty Driesell was fired as coach at James Madison, one day after he said next season would be his last.

The dismissal was announced by university President Ronald Carrier and Athletic Director Donald Lemish. They said the basketball program has deteriorated and lost the support of fans.

“I see no reason to dignify the statements by Dr. Carrier and Mr. Lemish by responding in kind,” Driesell said in a statement, released by Chuck Driesell, his son and an assistant coach.

Driesell, 65, was pursuing his 700th victory, and Carrier had promised he could stay until he had reached the milestone. But Driesell, who has won 683 games in 35 years, abruptly announced he would retire in 1998 whether he had won 700 games.

In nine seasons at James Madison, Driesell was 159-111 with one appearance in the NCAA tournament. The Dukes were 16-13 this season.

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Chris Knoche, who failed to get a recruiting foothold in a market dominated by Georgetown, Maryland and George Washington, will not be back next season as men’s coach at American University.

Knoche compiled a 77-118 record over seven seasons, including 11-16 this season.

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Richmond Coach Bill Dooley was fired after failing to lead the Spiders to a winning record in any of his four seasons.

Richmond was 13-15 this season and 43-69 under Dooley.