Chaney Retires After 24 Seasons at Temple

John Chaney retired Monday after 24 seasons as Temple’s basketball coach, ending a Hall of Fame career in which his temper at times got the better of him.

The 74-year-old Chaney, a fiery sideline presence admired as much for his mentoring as his success on the court, guided Temple to five NCAA regional finals and 17 NCAA tournament appearances and was twice the national coach of the year.

This season, Temple (17-14) made the NIT for the fifth consecutive season, a dramatic decline from when it was an NCAA tournament regular.

“Excuse me while I disappear,” said Chaney, his shirt unbuttoned and his unraveled tie draped over his shoulders as he ended his news conference.

“It’s always a very traumatic time, but it is time,” Chaney said. “Temple gave me a chance to make my own decision and that’s the great thing about it. Right now I’m faced with another problem with my wife, so it’s the right time to go.”

Chaney will not coach the Owls’ opening NIT game against Akron tonight because his wife was scheduled to undergo a procedure for an undisclosed health problem.

Assistant Dan Leibovitz will take his place, and it was not clear if Chaney would return to the bench if Temple won.

Chaney had a 741-311 record in 34 years as a college coach, including a 516-252 mark at Temple. He was twice the national coach of the year.

While Chaney had bouts of temper and Temple President David Adamany joked the coach “gave me heartburn every three or four months,” Owl guard Mardy Collins said: “Those little incidents don’t measure up to the things he’s done here at Temple.”

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With or without goggles, Allan Ray should be back on the court this week.

Three days after a scary eye injury left the senior guard fearing he’d be blind, Ray was cleared to practice and is expected to play for No. 2 Villanova in the NCAA tournament. Ray, the Wildcats’ second-leading scorer at 18.8 points a game, will decide whether he will wear goggles.

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It will be a battle of contrasting styles when Monmouth takes on Hampton in the NCAA play-in game tonight at Dayton, Ohio.

Monmouth, which plays at a slower pace than most, is led by forwards Dejan Delic and Marques Alston, who each average 12 points a game.

Hampton hopes to control the tempo and use its speed. The Pirates are led by forward Jaz Cowan, who averaged 13.2 points and seven rebounds.

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Oregon guard Aaron Brooks has been suspended for two games next season because of the flagrant foul he committed on Washington’s Ryan Appleby during the Pacific 10 Conference tournament, Oregon Athletic Director Bill Moos said. Brooks will sit out the regular-season opener and the Jan. 25 meeting with Washington in Seattle.... Steve McClain will remain Wyoming’s basketball coach, Athletic Director Gary Barta said.... Paul Biancardi stepped down as Wright State’s coach, three days after the NCAA barred him from recruiting for violating rules when he was an assistant at Ohio State.... Delaware fired coach David Henderson, a week after the Blue Hens concluded their third losing season in five years.