Mississippi State fires basketball coach Rick Ray

Mississippi State has fired Rick Ray after three seasons.

Athletic director Scott Stricklin made the announcement via a statement on Twitter:

It stated:

"After much thought and deliberation, I have made the decision to replace Rick Ray as Mississippi State's men's basketball coach. This has been a difficult decision, as I have the utmost respect for Rick, and am highly appreciative of the effort he put forth in leading our basketball program. To Rick's credit, we have seen great strides from our student-athletes in several areas, including academics. However, the on-court results have not been satisfactory. In order for MSU to achieve success at the levels to which we aspire, I believe that a change is necessary at this time."

"Men's basketball is important to Mississippi State University, and history illustrates that we can compete for championships on a consistent basis. MSU has won six SEC championships, in four different decades, under three different coaches. We have seen the Bulldogs play in the sport's final weekend, and I firmly believe there are more achievements like those in our future."

"The search for a new head coach begins immediately, and I'm confident we will identify someone who wants to be a part of the winning culture that is occurring at Mississippi State University."

Ray finished with a 37-60 record in his three seasons with the Bulldogs. He went 13-41 in the Southeastern Conference. The news comes 10 days shy of the three year anniversary of Stricklin hiring Ray.

Ray released this statement:

"I am saddened by the events today. Not for myself but for the players who have sacrificed their bodies and mind for me and the program; for the signed and committed recruits who have to go through a coaching change after taking SO much time and effort to make an educated decision about what is best for them and their future and choosing me as their next coach, mentor, and role model but now have to go through the gut wrenching process again; for my staff who worked tirelessly to hold our players accountable, to develop our players on and off the court, to recruit true student-athletes who hold up to my high standards as human beings and citizens, and for their undying loyalty to me and Mississippi State.

But a decision has been made and I want to thank Dr. Keenum and Scott Stricklin for giving me the opportunity to lead their program. I want to thank the athletic administration and coaches, especially John Cohen, Dan Mullen, and Vic Schaefer for all of their help and support. The high school and AAU coaches in this area have welcomed me and my staff with open arms and have been a complete pleasure to deal with and I am thankful for that. And most importantly the Mississippi State community, alums, fans, and former players for being SO kind to me and my family and making us feel at home and at peace. You truly showed us the definition of family and southern hospitality."

Those within the program were surprised by the firing. Ray expected to return for a fourth season.

"I've never had any situation at all from the administration that they are displeased with where we are at this point in time," Ray told the Clarion-Ledger two weeks ago. "I know everybody wants to be more on the fast track. I'm sure the administration wants the same thing, but I think those guys believe in me."

Stricklin refused on numerous occasions to comment on Ray's job status after the season.

Mississippi State has scheduled a press conference for 1:15 p.m. today.

Ray guided Mississippi State to a 6-12 record last season. He won seven combined SEC games in his first two seasons. Of the 12 SEC losses, seven were by six points or less.

"They have to look at it from the microscope," Ray told the Clarion-Ledger two weeks ago. "…We didn't have scholarship players our first two years and we didn't have front court depth at all in our first two years. I think if you sit there under a microscope you can say I can see where those guys have actually come from."

Ray took over a program three years ago in shambles. At times he coached through his first season with only six scholarship players. He had seven and eight during his second season.

The limited roster resulted in 13-game losing streaks in Ray's first two seasons.

Ray's third season started with a 5-1 in November. The wheels began to come off with a 1-5 month of January. Three of the five losses came in Mississippi to mid-tier mid-majors, including Arkansas State, USC Upstate and McNeese State.

MSU began conference play 0-3. But wins against LSU and at Tennessee combined with victories against Vanderbilt and Auburn, appeared to save his job.

The season ended with seven losses in nine games though. The only two wins were against Missouri, who finished last in the SEC.

The lasting impression was enough for MSU's administration to end Ray's contract with two years remaining on his contract.