Jacksonville Fires Head Coach Cliff Warren

After nine years at the helm for the Dolphins, the longest tenure in Jacksonville history, Cliff Warren was fired today, as first reported by Gene Frenette. His contract was set to expire in just a few months.

"We thank coach Cliff Warren for his outstanding service to Jacksonville University and his many efforts on behalf of the men’s basketball program over the past nine years," said athletic director Brad Edwards (via Jacksonville.com)

Warren, the winningest coach in program history with 126 victories, led JU to just a 12-14 record this season, one which ended with a 85-64 loss to Mercer in the Atlantic Sun quarterfinals.

There were brighter years for his Dolphins though, as he drove the Dolphins to a 2009 regular season conference title with a 15-5 Atlantic Sun record. After a successful 2010-11 campaign however, JU dropped three consecutive losing seasons, including this year.

Although the Dolphins lose two of their top four leading scorers in Keith McDougald and RJ Slawson as well, don't count them out of an Atlantic Sun that will lose a lot of firepower with the absence of Mercer and ETSU. Rising junior Jarvis Haywood contains the ability to carry the team.