STARKVILLE, Miss., March 15 (UPI) -- Rick Stansbury resigned Thursday after 14 seasons of coaching men's basketball at Mississippi State.
The unexpected announcement came after the Bulldogs' 101-92 double-overtime loss Tuesday to Massachusetts in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament and completed a 21-12 season.
Stansbury, 52, cited family issues for the decision to resign. He has three sons under the age of 14 and said he wants to spend more time at home.
"Smile, this is a happy day," Stansbury said Thursday during an emotional news conference.
"I've been doing this now for 28 years, 22 at Mississippi State, 14 as head coach. I thought long and hard about this. It's time in my life to start a new chapter, [and] step away from coaching."
Stansbury was an assistant at Mississippi State for eight seasons before moving up to head coach. The Bulldogs were 293-166 under Stansbury and five times finished first in the SEC West Division. Mississippi State twice won the SEC tournament in that span.
The Bulldogs had just one losing season --14-16 in Stansbury's second season -- in his tenure.
The 293 victories are a record for a Mississippi State coach.
