Wed Mar 26 17:46:58 2008

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Cal fires men's hoops coach Braun after 12 seasons

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Berkeley, CA (Sports Network) - The University of California announced Wednesday that head men's basketball coach Ben Braun, a veteran of 12 seasons in the Pacific 10 Conference, has been relieved of his duties.

"This was an extremely difficult decision that was undertaken with great care and diligence," said Cal director of athletics Sandy Barbour. "However, in the final analysis, I have determined that it is time for Cal to seek new leadership in our men's basketball program. Competing for conference championships and a place in the NCAA Tournament are goals and expectations that are embraced at Cal. Unfortunately, we have not been able to consistently meet those expectations in our men's basketball program."

Braun went 219-154 and reached five NCAA Tournaments during his 12 seasons with the Bears, but Cal was a disappointing 17-16 overall and 6-12 in the Pac-10 this season. A 73-56 loss at Ohio State Monday in the second round of the NIT served as the finale to the team's season.

Meanwhile, six other Pac-10 schools received invitations to the Big Dance, with UCLA, Stanford and Washington State surviving the tourney's first weekend and reaching the Sweet 16.

Over the past five seasons, Cal has reached the NCAAs just once - in 2006 - and was bounced in the first round. The Bears finished eighth or ninth in the league three times in the past four seasons, and went just 39-51 in Pac-10 contests from 2004 to 2008.

Braun arrived in the Bay Area in September of 1996 after a successful tenure as head coach at Eastern Michigan. In his first season, he guided the Bears to a 23-9 record and a Sweet 16 appearance, then reached the postseason five of the next six seasons - three times earning NCAA berths.

With 219 career victories at Cal, Braun ranks second on the school's all-time list behind Nibs Price, who patrolled the sidelines in Berkeley from 1925-54. The University of Wisconsin graduate also coached a pair of Pac-10 Players of the Year in Ed Gray (1997) and Sean Lampley (2001), as well as Leon Powe, the league's Freshman of the Year in 2004.

"I'd like to thank the Cal community for 12 great years of support," Braun said. "I've had the privilege to coach at one of the top universities in the country, and I'm proud of the program we've built. Going to eight postseason tournaments has been very special. I'm obviously disappointed that my staff and I won't be able to coach this team next year, and I feel they will be very successful."

According to Barbour, a national search for a new head coach will begin immediately with the aid of the firm Eastman & Beaudine, Inc. In the meantime, associate head coach Louis Reynaud will direct the program.