Kennedy Steps Down as Coach at DePaul

After five seasons, Pat Kennedy has resigned as coach of the DePaul Blue Demons.

“If you finally get to the point where the passion and drive is not there, it might be best to just step away,” Kennedy said Tuesday. “I thought the timing was right. How do you know the timing is right? I don’t know. It just felt right.”

Kennedy’s departure follows a 9-19 season. The Blue Devils won only two Conference USA games and failed to qualify for the conference tournament.

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Bradley fired Coach Jim Molinari after the team completed a 9-20 season, its worst since his first year at the school in 1991-92. Molinari had a 174-152 record in 11 seasons at Bradley, including one NCAA tournament berth and five National Invitation Tournament appearances.... Jeff Capel, a former Duke standout, was hired as coach at Virginia Commonwealth, becoming the youngest Division I coach in the nation at age 27. He replaces Mack McCarthy, who resigned after the Rams lost to North Carolina Wilmington on Monday in the championship game of the Colonial Athletic Assn. tournament.

Arkansas said it will respond to Nolan Richardson’s letter seeking an explanation of why he won’t coach the team next season. Since Chancellor John White announced Friday that Richardson was fired, Arkansas has offered no explanation beyond citing a no-excuses-necessary clause under the “Termination at Convenience of the University” section of Richardson’s seven-year, $1.03-million-a-year contract.... Eastern Washington Coach Ray Giacoletti has taken himself out of contention for the job at Long Beach State.... Liberty Coach Mel Hankinson was fired after a 5-25 season.

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Washington State women’s Coach Jenny Przekwas was fired after the team closed with 24 consecutive losses.... Lamar will not extend the contract of women’s Coach DeAnn Craft.... Maryland women’s Coach Chris Weller retired.... Joanie O’Brien will not return as women’s coach at Massachusetts after a 12-18 season, her 11th at the school.... Utah State, which hasn’t fielded a women’s team since 1987, will reintroduce it as a scholarship sport in the 2003-04 season.