East Carolina AD Jon Gilbert wrote the following letter to ECU supporters stating that head basketball coach Michael Schwartz will return as the Pirates head coach next season. ECU has struggled this season – they are currently 10-18 (5-10 American) with three regular season games remaining.
Pirate Nation:
I want to thank you for your continued support of our men’s basketball program. We are grateful to have you with us as we continue to strive for sustained success on the court.
With three regular season games remaining, we fully recognize that the results this season have not met our expectations. Coming off a 19-win season a year ago, we had high hopes for this season. While injuries impacted our roster early and often, we know our record should be better, and we share in your disappointment.
Over the past several months, we have evaluated all areas of our men’s basketball program – from roster construction to recruiting strategy to overall program investment.
After this review, we believe that Coach Schwartz gives us the best opportunity to have success on the court next year. Coach Schwartz and his staff have laid important groundwork that positions us to rebound from this season’s results. In our conversations, Coach Schwartz clearly understands the expectations for the program, and everyone involved will work tirelessly to make the necessary adjustments for future success.
To provide context, over the past 29 seasons, our program has produced three winning records. One of those three winning seasons was last year under Coach Schwartz’s leadership. That progress matters and we believe it is a foundation we can build upon.
Our fans deserve a program that competes at a high level, and we take that responsibility seriously. There is no reason our program can’t compete for conference championships and sustained success. ECU Athletics has never invested more into men’s basketball, and continued strategic investment will be critical to our future success.
In this new era of collegiate athletics with revenue sharing, Name, Image and Likeness opportunities, and the transfer portal, continuity and stability are more important than ever. A change in leadership would significantly disrupt the progress that has been made.
A key priority moving forward is ensuring we recruit and retain student-athletes whose talent and style of play align with the standard of the American Conference. Competing successfully in this league requires skill, size, experience, and depth.
Coach Schwartz is committed to identifying and developing players who meet that standard and can help us consistently compete at a higher level. Investment does play a significant role in getting the specific type of player who can elevate the program.
We understand that progress must be demonstrated on the court – not simply expressed in words. We share your urgency and your desire to see tangible improvement. I promise we will continue to evaluate our progress and hold ourselves accountable as we move our basketball program forward.
With the right roster additions, continued investment and the unwavering support of Pirate Nation, we are confident brighter days are ahead for ECU Basketball.
Go Pirates!
Jon
