The Roos men’s basketball team is losing head coach Billy Donlon after three seasons at the helm.
In a statement released Thursday, the university said Donlon was stepping away to pursue other opportunities. According to reporting from the Kansas City Star, Donlon is likely heading to Clemson, where he would join Brad Brownell’s team. Donlon was previously on Brownell’s staff at Wright State before taking over as head coach following Brownell’s departure.
“Melissa and I would like to thank the Kansas City Basketball community for allowing us to feel like family,” Donlon said. “We began this journey three years ago and promised to put our heart and soul into making this basketball program something we would all take pride in.”
Donlon led the Roos’ program to two winning seasons in his short tenure. This past season, Kansas City went 19-12, representing the second-winningest season in the program’s 36-year Division I history.
The Roos also finished third in the Summit League but faced an early exit in the opening round of the conference tournament against South Dakota.
Donlon posted a 46-39 record during his time as the men’s basketball coach at UMKC, and he is the only coach in program history with a lifetime winning record.
“I want to thank Billy Donlon and his wife Melissa for their positive contribution to the Roo family,” Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Dr. Brandon Martin said. “Coach Donlon has left an ineradicable stamp on our program, staff and our campus community at large. We wish Coach Donlon and his family all the best moving forward.”
Kansas City Athletics will conduct a search immediately for its next men’s basketball head coach.
