Lebo out as Auburn men's basketball coach

All the news came out yesterday. But here's my story in today's newspaper looking at Jeff Lebo's dismissal:

AUBURN, Ala. — Feeling strongly that the Auburn men’s basketball program needed to “move in a new direction,” athletics director Jay Jacobs fired sixth-year coach Jeff Lebo on Friday.

Jacobs informed Lebo of his decision during a midday meeting, less than 24 hours after the Tigers’ season ended with a loss to Florida in the first round of the Southeastern Conference tournament in Nashville, Tenn.

Auburn was 15-17 this season, the fourth time in Lebo’s six seasons it failed to go .500.

“Going into the meeting today I knew what I needed to do,” Jacobs said. “I felt strongly that I needed to make a change.”

The 43-year-old Lebo finished with a 96-93 record in six years, going 35-61 in SEC play. His teams made only one postseason appearance, the NIT in 2009.

“Our No. 1 goal is to win and I believe that all of our teams should be able to compete for championships,” Jacobs said. “I believe we have a great opportunity.”

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