March 1 (UPI) -- The University at Albany has parted ways with men's basketball coach Will Brown after two decades, the school announced Monday.
In a statement, Brown said he and the school agreed to "mutually part ways." The 2020-21 season was the final year of his contract.
"Anyone who knows me knows this decision was extraordinarily difficult," Brown said. "But I leave the University at Albany with an enormous sense of pride in the positive impact that my staff, my family and, most important, the student-athletes I had the honor of coaching, have had on UAlbany basketball and the greater Albany community."
The school, which competes in the America East Conference, said it will begin a national search for Brown's successor immediately.
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The 49-year-old Brown, who was hired in December 2001, posted a 315-295 record and guided the program to five NCAA tournament berths.
Also Monday, the University of Denver fired men's basketball coach Rodney Billups after five seasons.
Billups, who is the younger brother of former NBA star and current Los Angeles Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups, finished with a 48-94 record at the school. The Pioneers posted a 3-19 overall record this season.
"We are thankful for Rodney's service and dedication to the program and its student-athletes," Karlton Creech, Denver vice chancellor for athletics, said in a statement. "We wish him and his family the best in his future endeavors."
Meanwhile, Binghamton University announced Monday that men's basketball coach Tommy Dempsey is out and assistant Levell Sanders has been named interim head coach for next season.
Binghamton athletic director Patrick Elliott said in a statement that Dempsey's contract wouldn't be renewed after his nine years leading the program.
Dempsey had a 71-194 record at Binghamton across nine seasons.
