Canisius University Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Bill Maher and Reggie Witherspoon met Saturday (March 16) and have agreed to mutually part ways. Witherspoon will not return as Canisius’ head men’s basketball coach for the 2024-25 season.
“In Reggie Witherspoon‘s eight years as the head coach of Canisius men’s basketball, he led our program with class and integrity, instilling these important values in his student-athletes,” Maher said. “I have known Reggie for more than 25 years, having worked with him for at least half of that time. The importance of the team, and the development of the young men in our program, has always been his primary focus. I am grateful for his positive impact on the Canisius campus and the broader Western New York basketball community. I thank Reggie, Dawn and the entire extended Witherspoon family for their time at Canisius.”
Witherspoon compiled 108 wins during his eight years leading the Golden Griffins, with 73 of those victories coming in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) regular-season play. He led Canisius to a share of the 2017-18 MAAC regular season championship, and he guided the Griffs to a pair of national postseason berths in 2016-17 (CIT) and 2017-18 (CBI). During his tenure, 11 different Griffs earned All-MAAC honors, and three former players were recognized as major MAAC individual award winners.
“As we look to this next chapter of Golden Griffin men’s basketball, our goals are clear,” Maher said. “We are determined to build a men’s basketball program that can compete for MAAC Championships and will do so with student-athletes who represent what is best about Canisius University. Leveraging intercollegiate athletics to better engage our alumni and community, while creating an engaging student experience, is an important element of our university’s strategic plan—Answer the Call. A successful men’s basketball program is essential in achieving our ambitions.”
A national search will begin immediately.
Witherspoon out as Head Basketball Coach at Canisius
