Following up on a report from earlier today…

UC Santa Barbara will not retain head men’s basketball coach Bob Williams beyond his current contract, Director of Athletics John McCutcheon announced in a statement on Thursday.

“I informed Coach Williams today that the University will not be extending his contract beyond the current term. As I am attending the Big West Tournament and related league meetings in Anaheim I was not able to inform Bob in person. Public speculation and the potential impact to our men’s basketball team members have prompted me to make this announcement now. I hope to meet with team members on my return to campus but will have no additional comments at this time.” – John McCutcheon

Williams had been the Gauchos head coach since 1998 and has gone 313-260 during his tenure. He is the winningest coach in school history and is the longest tenured Division I head coach west of the Mississippi River. Williams has also been the head coach at UC Davis (1990-98) where in his final season, he went 31-2, won the NCAA Division II National Championship and was named NABC Division II Coach of the Year.