Finn-ished

After four losing seasons in five years, Tulane Athletic Director Rick Dickson announced Sunday that men’s basketball coach Shawn Finney will not be returning for the 2005-2006 season.

“We are certainly appreciative of the hard work Shawn and his staff have done on behalf of Tulane University over the last five years,” Dickson said. “We have shown improvement and there has been progress made in many areas, including the academic performance in terms of graduation, APR and grade point average. Yet ultimately the program did not move forward enough in the areas of competitive success and support.”

Dickson and Finney arranged a meeting in the home locker room at Fogelman Arena to break the news to the players. Dickson first stated that he and Finney both agreed it was time for him to step down. Finney spoke afterward, emphasizing the move was a mutual agreement.

“I would like to thank Tulane University and Rick Dickson,” Finney said. “I appreciate the opportunity they gave me. I have had a great experience, met some wonderful people and made some great friends. I wish Tulane the best of luck; now I am looking forward to my next coaching opportunity.”

Many of the players were expecting a routine meeting and were shocked by the announcement.

“It was really surprising,” junior forward Quincy Davis said. “I really wasn’t expecting it. It was very emotional at the beginning, because he was actually part of our family. Whether or not he was doing his job, he was a part of the family. For us to lose him, it was obviously not a good situation that anybody on our team wanted to be in.”

The team’s perpetual struggles and the failure to produce results in the past two seasons sealed Finney’s fate.

The Green Wave accumulated a 21-35 record over the last two years with a dismal 8-24 record in Conference USA. The team qualified as the 12th and final seed for the C-USA tournament both seasons, but was ousted in the first round, including a season ending 81-71 loss to DePaul last Wednesday.

This year’s squad, which included eight freshmen and sophomores, finished with a 10-18 record and an RPI ranking of 267 out of 330 Division I teams. The RPI ranking is a numeric ratings percentage index that ranks teams according to several variables including record, strength of non-conference and conference schedules. This 267 ranking is fifth lowest in the nation among teams playing within the 10 major conferences.

“He’s not out there playing, but coaching does play a part in [winning]. You have to stick in the right combination of players at any given moment, so some people might criticize him that he’s not doing a good job with substitutions,” Davis said. “Even if we don’t get the job done, no matter who he puts in, he’s going to take the heat.”

Despite the disappointing season, senior guard Marcus Kinzer, who is one of only five players to play his entire collegiate career under Finney, was hurt by the university’s decision.

“I’ve been here four years and we’ve developed a bond and a friendship together,” Kinzer said. “I came here as a young player and from where I came, I’ve really matured. It was a hard decision, but he’s been good to me, so it hurts to see him go.”

While Finney may walk away from Tulane as a success off the court, his ineffectiveness on the court justified his dismissal.

During his five years as head coach, perhaps his most disappointing moments came in his second and third season. The Green Wave had an abundance of talent, most of whom were upperclassmen. However, these teams never advanced past the quarterfinals of the C-USA tourney and, in the end, failed to meet the expectations of the Green Wave community.

“I thought we underachieved my first two years here,” Kinzer added. “I can’t really put my finger on why, but I know we should have been in the [NCAA] tournament both of those years or worst case scenario, the NIT.”

Finney’s inability to maximize the roles of his experienced players carried over into this past season. When asked if he believed Finney misused him this year, Davis believed that he had.

“I talked to my uncle all the time and he would ask me, ‘Why is one of your point guards taking more shots than the starting big man?’ My answer to him was always, ‘I don’t know, but I guess that’s just one of the things that [Finney] liked seeing as a coach,’” Davis said. “I don’t know if he wanted to develop the young guys like Taylor as a player because he saw a future for him or what. I never did understand that.”

Finney’s only winning season came in 2002-2003 when the team started five seniors and went 16-15. Following the season, Finney was offered the head coaching position at Marshall in his home state of West Virginia. Finney declined the offer, and as a measure of good faith, Dickson presented Finney with a contract extension.

That year, the Green Wave tied for second in the national division of C-USA with UAB with an 8-8 mark. After an 82-66 loss to Louisville in the quarterfinals of the C-USA tournament, Tulane awaited a possible NIT bid.

The team’s ineptitude against the top-tier teams in the conference, though, dissuaded the selection committee from inviting Tulane.

In his five-year stint behind the Green Wave bench, Finney compiled a 60-86 record, including a 23-57 mark in C-USA. A closer look into the conference schedule reveals his futility against the perennial leaders of the conference. While several of the games at Fogelman Arena were tightly contested, Finney remained winless (0-26) against rivals Marquette, Cincinnati, Memphis, Charlotte and Louisville.

Dickson did not disclose specific individuals he was considering as possible replacements for Finney; however, he stated the search for a new head coach would begin immediately. He will conduct the search alongside Senior Associate Athletic Director Maria Ochoa, who will serve as the point of contact within the department for all inquiries regarding the position.

Year Record (C-USA) Exit Round of C-USA Tournament

2000-2001 9-21 (2-14) 1st

2001-2002 14-15 (5-11) 2nd

2002-2003 16-15 (8-8) 2nd

2003-2004 11-17 (4-12) 1st

2004-2005 10-18 (4-12) 1st

2004-2005 RPI ranking- 267-330 (5th lowest of teams playing within major conferences)

0-26 in five years against Marquette, Memphis, Cincinnati, Charlotte and Louisville

 — Sports editor Jason Lieser contributed to this article.