Austin Peay head coach Dave Loos to retire, according to report

Since the dawn of the 1990-91 season, Dave Loos has been a staple on the Austin Peay sidelines. According to a report from ESPN’s Jeff Goodman, Loos has decided to retire after 27 years patrolling the sidelines for the Governors.

Earlier this season, Loos took a leave of absence amid his bout with colon cancer. The leave began in early January, and Loos returned shortly after on January 19. The decision to retire comes at the completion of the Governors’ 11-19 season, and only days before his 70th birthday.

In his career, Loos amassed over 400 wins at Austin Peay, and finished with a record of 420-410. He led the Governors to five regular season titles in the OVC, and reached the NCAA Tournament four times.

Upon hearing the news, Belmont Head Coach Rick Byrd offered some words to The Leaf Chronicle about his former colleague:

“First and foremost, Dave Loos is a gentleman, and I think often times we need more civility in the coaching business, and he’s a great example of that,” Byrd said. “He’s an outstanding basketball coach and has been since the first time I saw his team play 25 or 30 years ago. But better than that, he’s a great example for the young men he’s coached. He’s a great representative of Austin Peay. His retirement is a significant loss to our profession."

It’s hard to walk away after a lifetime of coaching, but one’s health is always the most important thing to take care of. Kudos to Loos for a long and successful career, and we wish him a healthy retirement.