Rhode Island College will begin a nationwide search for a new head men’s basketball coach immediately. Over the past 14 years, Rhode Island College has enjoyed unprecedented success, which includes six Little East Conference regular season and tournament championships, a run of eight straight seasons with an NCAA Division III Tournament appearance, two trips to the Sweet 16 and one to the Elite 8.
However, the Anchormen have won six, 11 and eight games over the course of the past three seasons. Head men’s basketball coach Michael Byrnes will not continue his contract with Rhode Island College for the 2018-19 season.
Byrnes, who followed Bob Walsh as head coach at RIC, had been an assistant coach at Robert Morris, and had last coached in Division III in 1993. The Anchormen went 20-8 in his first season, but finished 45-61 (.425) over his four years.
“I want to thank Mike for all his efforts over the past four seasons and want to wish him and his family the best,” athletic director Don Tencher said. “The program needs to improve in the Little East Conference, the New England region and at the national level. We’ve had tremendous success in the past with our program and I am confident we can get back to that level in the near future.”