Just confirming our rumor from earlier this morning. Joey James has officially been released as the interim head coach at South Dakota.

The University of South Dakota will conduct a national search for its head men’s basketball coaching position. The process will begin immediately.

USD has contracted with Fogler Consulting to assist with the search. Fogler Consulting was established in 2006 by Eddie Fogler, a former National Coach of the Year with 30 years of Division I experience. Fogler has successfully placed 15 coaches across the nation at all levels of Division I basketball.

“As we stated in October, the men’s basketball coaching position at the University of South Dakota is one that merits a national search,” said USD director of athletics David Herbster. “We committed to conducting a search process then, and we are following through with that commitment now.

“Our status as a Division I institution and our affiliation with the Summit League, along with the academic reputation of the University, makes this a highly attractive position. We owe it to our student-athletes, fans and community to conduct a comprehensive and thorough search.”

South Dakota fell to Denver, 71-55, in a Summit League Tournament quarterfinal game Sunday in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Coyotes finished with a 12-18 record.

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