Bobby Gonzalez Fired: Seton Hall Fires Gonzalez?

Seton Hall basketball coach Bobby Gonzalez, was fired today after a loss to Texas Tech in the opening round of the NIT tournament. The loss, however, was not part of the firing decision.

Seton Hall narrowly missed making the NCAA tournament in its fourth season under Gonzalez. Rutgers hasn’t had a winning record yet in four seasons under Hill.

Seton Hall dismissed Coach Bobby Gonzalez on Wednesday, ending his tumultuous four-year tenure a day after an ignominious first-round loss in the National Invitation Tournament and the arrest of a player who had been kicked off the team.

Why did Seton Hall fire Bobby Gonzalez? What is the reason behind the firing?

On Tuesday in what turned out to be Gonzalez's last game as coach, not only did he get a technical foul for arguing with officials, but a player of his was ejected for throwing a punch during the game.

Because sometimes how you conduct yourself and run your program matters. And from that standpoint, Gonzalez has been a raging disaster, while Hill has earned every chance to try to get it right.

That’s the compare/contrast lesson learned in New Jersey college basketball today. Gonzalez ran a low-class program. Hill has tried to do things the right way.

As a result, both schools have done the right thing with their coaches.

University president Monsignor Robert Sheeran informed Gonzalez of the decision around noon, saying he had lost confidence in Gonzalez's ability to lead the program.

"It is essential that all University leaders embody the ideals that make us all so proud of Seton Hall," Sheeran said.

Two weeks ago, it seemed like Gonzalez would finally secure an NCAA bid for SHU; today's he gone. It's a tough business.

The Pirates ended their season in embarrassing fashion last night, losing to Texas Tech in the NIT opener in front of a sparse Prudential Center crowd after leading rebounder Herb Pope was ejected for punching a Red Raider player in the groin. The nature of the loss -- and the recent dismissal of forward Robert Mitchell, who was cut from the team after criticizing his coach -- may have been the final nails in the coffin.

Gonzalez' tenure at Seton Hall has been controversial, with the coach drawing criticism for his on-court histrionics and his approach to recruiting.

Bobby Gonzalez completed his Seton Hall tenure Tuesday with an 87-69 loss at Prudential Center to Texas Tech in the opening round of the NIT. In four seasons, he amassed an overall record of 66-59 and a 29-45 mark in Big East games.

Also Tuesday, a Pirates player, Robert Mitchell, was arrested in Newark and charged with kidnapping, robbery, burglary and possession of a weapon, according to a law enforcement official in Essex County. Mitchell was accused along with another person of breaking into a house in South Orange, duct-taping eight people and stealing cash and personal items. The police have not identified the other person.