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| Jose Rebimbas had just started his 21st season at William Paterson, and has won 399 career games. William Paterson athletics photo |
Jose Rebimbas, who led the William Paterson men’s basketball team to 384 wins and two national semifinals, announced on Saturday night that he is leaving the program effective immediately.
A few hours after the Pioneers suffered their first loss of the season at Brooklyn, Rebimbas, described in his department bio as "the architect of some of the greatest accomplishments in Pioneer basketball history," posted the following message on his Facebook page:
"It is with great sadness and extreme frustration that after today I will not be coaching the basketball team at William Paterson University. WP has been my home and family for more than 20 years and yet the University has taken action to remove me from the service I love. People I have trusted and served with have defied logic and are pursing my termination because of a misunderstanding over a facility rental fee for a camp that I run.
"These actions come despite the University hearing officer determining that termination was not warranted. The University has unfairly and illegally taken my right to coach and mentor the student-athletes I love. I am prepared to fight the actions of William Paterson University and restore my good name and that of the program.”
William Paterson declined to comment.
Rebimbas had just started his 21st season at William Paterson, which got off to a 3-0 start before Saturday’s loss. Rebimbas went 384-168 at the school, including trips to the national final in 2001, the national semifinal in 1999 and seven other NCAA tournament appearances.
Rebimbas departs the university one win short of 400 for his career, including his 15 wins as the interim head coach at fellow NJAC school Montclair State in 1994.