Thanks to great sources who got HoopDirt.com out in front of this one earlier this morning (HOT RUMOR). It has now been made official – Byron Rimm II has resigned as the head coach at Prairie View A&M and has been replaced on an interim basis by associate head coach Byron Smith.
Here is the official release from PVAMU:
Veteran coach Byron Rimm II has resigned from his position as head basketball coach at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU). Assistant coach Byron Smith has been named interim head coach, effective immediately.
“Coach Rimm has represented Prairie View A&M University with class and professionalism during his tenure as head basketball coach,” said PVAMU Athletic Director Ashley Robinson. “He genuinely cared for his student-athletes and he went to great lengths to ensure that they would receive the total experience of being a Division I student-athlete on-and-off the court. This was not an easy decision, but sometimes we need to make tough decision to move the program forward. I wish Coach Rimm well in his future endeavors.”
Rimm started his long career with the men’s PVAMU basketball program as an assistant coach during the 2005-06 season. He was elevated to head coach prior to the 2006-07 season and earned accolades when he became the first head coach since 2002 to make consecutive SWAC Tournament Championship Game appearances in 2013 and 2014. Under his leadership, the Panthers would go on to make seven SWAC Tournament appearances.
Rimm ranks third at PVAMU for all-time victories with 115 in 10 seasons. His ledger includes wins over teams from respected conferences such as the American Athletic Conference and Conference USA. Several of Rimm’s players are currently playing professionally in leagues ranging from the NBA D-League to overseas.
Always interested in developing his student athletes to perform well inside the classroom and on the court, Rimm made news in 2013 when the University’s annual Academic Progress Report (APR) submitted to the NCAA showed that PVAMU’s men’s basketball program posted the top score among men’s basketball teams in the SWAC. In fact, the team posted its highest APR in program history with a score of 944.
About Interim Head Coach Byron Smith:
Byron Smith is in his third year on the PVAMU staff and has international experience coaching all levels of basketball. He has served as head coach of the Harlem Globetrotters and was an assistant coach at Texas A&M University, Texas Southern University and McClennan Community College. The Bossier City, La. native was a standout player at the University of Houston from 1989-91, twice earning All-Southwest Conference honors under Coach Pat Foster. Prior to joining the team at the University of Houston, Smith was an all-conference player at Tyler Junior College from 1988-89 and played at Northwestern State from 1987-88.
Photo Courtesy PVAMU Athletics
