The Clemson Tigers fired women’s basketball head coach Itero Coleman on March 8 for failing to return the team to the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference during her three-year tenure.
Coleman, who played point guard for the Lady Tigers from 1995-to-1999, posted an overall record of 25-63 and was 10-38 against ACC foes. Clemson’s 2012-13 season came to a close on March 7, with a 56-45 loss to North Carolina State in the opening round of the ACC Tournament. The Tigers finished their ninth straight season with a losing record (9-21, 5-13 ACC).
"After an evaluation of the program, it is time to make a change. We will begin a national coaching search immediately," athletics director Dan Radakovich said in a statement.
Clemson has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2002. Prior to that, the Lady Tigers were one of the powers in women’s college basketball having reached the NCAA Tournament in 14 of the previous 15 seasons.
Coleman’s biggest problem was not recruiting talent, it was keeping the talent. Freshmen Jonquel Jones and Danaejah Grant left the team and asked for a transfer prior to ACC play after being in Coleman’s regular rotation early in the season. Sophomore Chelsea Lindsay, who started 33 of her 36 games for the Tigers, also asked for a transfer midseason. Jones and Grant were both ranked in ESPN’s Top-100 prospects in the class of 2012.
Clemson finished the season with just eight active players on the roster.
Coleman started her coaching career with Clemson, spending five seasons under Jim Davis. She also served as an assistant at Penn State for three years before coming back to the Lady Tigers as head coach.
I want to thank coach Coleman for her hard work and dedication as Clemson's head coach," Radakovich said. "She has represented Clemson University with dignity and class, dating to her days as a player."
Clemson won three of their final five games of the season and had no seniors. Sophomore Nikki Dixon (12. 7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.2 spg) and Junior Quinyotta Pettaway (10.8 ppg, 8.9 rpg) were the Lady Tigers top two players.
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