Felisha Legette-Jack fired

The IU women’s basketball team is looking for a new leader.

IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass announced Monday he has fired the team’s head coach, Felisha Legette-Jack.

“After a deliberate and thorough review of all aspects of the women’s basketball program, including meeting with Felisha and interviews with all current players, I have concluded that under the current circumstances Felisha is no longer in a position to turn the program around,” Glass said in a press release.  “Delaying the inevitable isn’t fair to her, the program and its fans, and most importantly the student-athletes on this team.”

The firing comes after the Hoosiers’ worst season of Legette-Jack’s era in which they posted an overall record of 6-24 and a Big Ten mark of 1-15.

Legette-Jack coached IU for six full seasons. She accumulated a total record of 87-100, including a 39-64 performance in conference play.

IU never reached the NCAA tournament under Legette-Jack, but they qualified for the NIT in her first three years. In her third year, the Hoosiers reached the quarterfinals of the NIT where they fell to Illinois State. Also in that year, Legette-Jack’s squad tied a team-record of nine consecutive wins and won 21 games for only the fourth time in program history.

Before this season, 21 of Legette-Jack’s players received Academic All-Big Ten honors. In 2009 Whitney Thomas won the Big Ten Medal of Honor, the first time an IU women’s basketball player received the prestigious award honoring excellence in scholarship and athletics.

Legette-Jack’s original contract was set to expire after the 2012-2013 season. Last July, however, Glass extended Legette-Jack’s contract through the 2014-2015 school year.

“I am mindful that just last year I provided Felisha a two-year contract extension in the belief that such support would help her get the program going in the right direction again,” Glass said in a press release. “In retrospect, I was wrong. However, I am not going to compound that mistake by refusing to make the decision that now needs to be made.”

Glass also stated that the search for a new coach has already commenced. He is assisted by his staff in the search, particularly Senior Associate Athletic Directors Kevin Clark and Julie Cromer. Clark is the Sport Administrator for women’s basketball and Cromer is the department’s Senior Women Administrator.

Glass will consult with the Athletics Committee of the Bloomington Faculty Council and others including current and former players, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, the Black Coaches and Administrators Association, the Big Ten Conference and the NCAA.

Glass has also created a transition team to oversee the women’s basketball program. It includes Clark, Assistant Athletic Trainer Robert Black, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Tom Morris, Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Services Kelly Noonan and Academic Advisor Lorian Price.

Glass said he holds no hard feelings over the firing and appreciates Legette-Jack’s service during her tenure.

“Felisha is a wonderful person who did many good things for our program, the university and the wider community,” he said in a press release. “We all wish her much success in her future endeavors.”