DePaul University announced Monday that Jerry Wainwright is no longer the men’s basketball coach and assistant coach Tracy Webster will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
“At this time a change needed to be made in the direction of the men’s basketball program at DePaul University,” DePaul AD Jean Lenti Ponsetto said. “We are very grateful to Coach Wainwright for his service to our student-athletes and our University community. He provided unwavering leadership in assisting our student-athletes in both their academic and personal growth. He was instrumental in helping to solidify our infrastructure by improving our staffing, our budget and our facilities.”
The Chicago Tribune first reported the news Sunday night and earlier reported that Wainwright suffered an MCL tear and a fractured tibia during a sideline collision Wednesday at Villanova.
The Blue Demons (7-8, 0-3 Big East) have lost their last four games, including the 99-72 loss to Villanova. They have dropped 22 straight Big East games, including a winless 0-18 mark last season.
DePaul next hosts Providence Thursday.
Wainwright previously coached at UNC-Wilmington (1994-2002) and Richmond (2002-05) before taking over at DePaul in 2005.
In four-plus seasons, he compiled a 59-80 record.
The Blue Demons went 9-24 last year and lost Dar Tucker, who averaged 18.5 points, to the pros.
Wainwright had has just one postseason appearance under his guidance, a berth in the NIT in 2007.
(Photo courtesy ChicagoNow.com)
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