Grand Canyon parts ways with head coach Dan Majerle after 7 seasons

Grand Canyon University announced Thursday evening that it has parted ways with men’s basketball head coach Dan Majerle.

“GCU has become a premier mid-major basketball destination with its resources, facilities, and student and community support,” GCU strategic advisor Jerry Colangelo said in a press release.  “We look forward to the future of the program under the direction of the new head coach.”

Majerle spent seven seasons coaching the Antelopes, leading them to a record of 136-89. This season GCU was 13-17, the first time one of Majerle’s team finished under .500.

He originally took over the program in 2013 when the team was making a transition into Division I play and the Western Athletic Conference.

The Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor member repeatedly said his goal was to have GCU make the NCAA Tournament for the first time but was never able to achieve it.

Since it became eligible for postseason play in the last three seasons, GCU has finished third, third and tied for fifth in the regular season WAC standings. In the two previous seasons from 2015-17, Majerle’s teams went a combined 49-16.

Assistant head coach Marvin Menzies has been named the team’s interim head coach.

On Thursday morning, the WAC was one of the many conferences to cancel their postseason tournament due to COVID-19. The Antelopes were slated to play UMKC in Las Vegas that day. The NCAA later announced they were canceling the NCAA Tournament.

Majerle was selected 15th overall by the Suns in the 1988 NBA Draft and played his first seven NBA seasons in the Valley before returning for the 2001-02 season to end his career in Phoenix.

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