The Georgia Bulldogs finally broke their silence on Saturday night and made head basketball coach Mark Fox's firing official.
After 11Alive confirmed the reports that Fox's time in Athens was coming to an end, the Bulldogs released a statement that said Fox would not be returning for a tenth season.
“Days like today are very difficult, especially when you are talking about someone like Mark Fox,” Athletic Director Greg McGarity said. “We have worked alongside each other for eight seasons, and I have the utmost respect for Mark, his staff, our student-athletes and the support staff. They have always represented the University of Georgia in a professional manner. I know I speak for all Bulldogs to say ‘thank you’ to Mark and Cindy for the time and effort they have devoted to the University of Georgia.
“In the end, I felt like we have not reached our full potential as a basketball program. I really thought we were on the way to turning the corner this year. We just did not achieve the level of success as a program that I believe we should at the University of Georgia."
McGarity said the team will begin a national search for Fox's replacement and move as quickly as possible. There are already a couple big names being thrown around as a possible replacement.
Fox released a statement through the University:
“For the past nine years, we have had the good fortune to coach some terrific young men,” Fox said. “This chapter has closed, and I am grateful to the many who have helped us along the way but especially to the young men who wore the red and black. We’ve been able to reach a couple of NCAA Tournaments, a couple more NITs and graduate our players. Hopefully, our time here can be the groundwork for more success.”
The Bulldogs were eliminated from the SEC Tournament on Friday by the Kentucky Wildcats, ending a disappointing ninth season for Fox.
Fox led the Bulldogs to only two NCAA Tournament appearances. In neither of those appearances did the Bulldogs make it out of the first round.
It's been consistent inconsistency from Fox's teams despite talented rosters. This year was no different, finishing with a regular season record of 18-15 while having the AP SEC Player of the Year and conference's leading scorer, Yante Maten.
But he ran a clean program and has kept Georgia far away from the scandals that plague college basketball.
Georgia Athletics did not immediately respond to questions about a possible interim should the Bulldogs accept a bit to the NIT Tournament.
