The Air Force Academy and suspended basketball coach Joe Scott have announced they are parting ways, effective immediately, following an investigation into Scott’s treatment of student-athletes.
The Air Force Academy and suspended basketball coach Joe Scott announced they had mutually parted ways Friday, as reported by Field Level Media. Scott was suspended on Jan. 17 as Air Force launched an investigation into his treatment of student-athletes.
“Coach Scott’s passion for the game of basketball has long been evident in his competitive and direct coaching style. It was this coaching style that guided Air Force Basketball to some of the program’s most memorable achievements during his initial tenure at the Air Force Academy,” athletic director Nathan Pine said in a statement, according to Field Level Media. “This is a different day, and now is the right time for a new voice and a new approach to drive the culture and success of the men’s basketball program, aligned with the Air Force Academy’s mission of forging leaders of character developed to lead in our Air Force and Space Force. We thank Coach Scott for his 10 years of service to the Academy and wish him and his family well.”
Background on Joe Scott
Scott has served two tenures as head coach at Air Force. He piloted the Falcons to a 22-7 record, a MWC title, and their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003-04. He earned MWC Coach of the Year honors after that season and finished fourth in Associated Press Coach of the Year polling.
After four seasons at Air Force (2000-04), he took over at Princeton for three seasons, finishing with a 38-45 mark with the Tigers. He returned to Colorado to coach the University of Denver from 2007-16, guiding the Pioneers to a share of the Western Athletic Conference regular-season championship in the 2012-13 season.
Current State of Air Force Basketball
Jon Jordan has been serving as interim head coach. The Falcons (3-23, 0-15 Mountain West) have dropped all nine games under Jordan and 19 in a row since a 98-85 win over IU Indianapolis on Nov. 23.
Scott, who played at Princeton from 1983-87, has a coaching ledger of 281-369. “I thank Nate Pine for his leadership,” Scott said in a statement. “The Air Force Academy gave me my first head coaching opportunity and I am forever grateful. We will always be fans of Air Force Basketball.”
What’s Next for Air Force
Air Force hosts UNLV on Saturday. As the team looks to move forward, they will be seeking a new coach to lead the program. The search for a new head coach is expected to begin immediately.
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