Long Beach State AD Says Firing Coach Dan Monson Went According to Plan: ‘It Worked’

[{"selector":"#anim-c3290bce-0605-4e50-b9e8-4502b71dec0f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(33.12499989760315%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] When Long Beach State announced on March 11 that men's basketball coach Dan Monson would not return for the next season, the squad was not projected to make the NCAA Tournament.

[{"selector":"#anim-438f2359-a3c6-4083-b2ed-0244d47b85d7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.179687404002955%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] After all, the 49ers had just completed the regular season on a five-game losing streak, finishing 18-14 overall and 10-10 in Big West Conference play.

[{"selector":"#anim-607893a5-127f-4007-b7b0-21f3e22afc4c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(42.34095972543152%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Fast forward to last weekend: Long Beach State won the Big West tournament with three straight wins, securing a spot in March Madness.

[{"selector":"#anim-18864e97-9982-4370-86b6-7b3b594b9353 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(42.58384476996772%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Fast forward to last weekend: Long Beach State won the Big West tournament with three straight wins, securing a spot in March Madness.

[{"selector":"#anim-5811fe0e-b30f-4ac3-95e8-b2d7583e3bc7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.561383832574381%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Long Beach State athletic director Bobby Smitheran offered an unexpected take on the trade Thursday, suggesting that he thought the transaction would encourage the 49ers.

[{"selector":"#anim-4d6507c2-ca5d-4289-a629-03033e533ea1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(48.11662936828868%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] "My belief and hope is that by doing what I did and timing it, they would play inspired, and that's what they did,"

[{"selector":"#anim-bbefe2ff-5800-42c2-a522-c6bc4c290e60 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(43.463727582467726%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Smitheran told the Associated Press ahead of the 49ers' first-round NCAA tournament game against Arizona. "I'm not trying to pat myself on the back, but it worked."

[{"selector":"#anim-75ebc078-d5fa-4892-830c-69f00106258a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.34374990499848%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] March Madness 2024: News, Analysis, and Schedule Bracket Monson's final games with the team will come during the NCAA playoffs.

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Long Beach State AD Says Firing Coach Dan Monson Went According to Plan: ‘It Worked’

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