Byrd Retires – End of an Era

Legendary Coach Steps Down

(St. Louis, MO) – The rumors came to fruition Monday afternoon. Belmont’s legendary coach Rick Byrd retired. After 33 years on the Bruin bench, the legendary coach steps down. Under Byrd’s leadership, Belmont won 805 games, including this year’s first-ever NCAA Tournament game victory.

The classy Byrd is expressed his gratitude to his family, players and administration.

“For the past 33 years, it has been my privilege to work with, and for, a remarkable community of men and women at Belmont University,” Byrd said. “Throughout my tenure as men’s basketball coach, our program has received great support from Belmont’s administration, faculty, staff and students. For this, I am forever grateful. Personally, I have been the beneficiary of a very supportive family that I could count on every single day, a loyal circle of friends who consistently offered encouragement, and a terrific fan base that has embraced our program and our players for over three decades. Most importantly, it has been an honor to coach the young men that have brought credit to Belmont University, not only by how they played the game, but how they represented our university all over our country.”

An Emotional Day

University President, Dr. Bob Fisher said he had to wisely choose his emotions.

“We could approach it with sadness and regret that we won’t be able to witness a genius at work here at Belmont,” said Fisher. “The other choice is joy and gratitude. The joy of watching Rick jumping up and down after that win in Dayton. The joy that Rick will have enjoying his first grand child. Gratitude on Rick Byrd for a job so well done. I don’t know anyone at this school that demonstrates our core values better than Rick Byrd.”

Director of Athletics Scott Corley hoped the retirement was an ‘April Fools Joke’ but says Monday was bitter sweet.

“It is a bitter sweet day me and all of Bruin nation,” said Corley. “I’m sad for college basketball. To lose coach to this retirement is a loss because he did it the right way. He stood for everything the student athlete experience should be about.”

Amazing Accomplishments

Byrd’s 805 career victories rank 12^th all-time among NCAA Division I head coaches.

The Knoxville, Tennessee native led Belmont to eight NCAA Tournament appearances (2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019) in the last 14 years, national top 25 poll votes eight of the last nine years and notable victories over the likes of North Carolina, UCLA, Marquette, Cincinnati, Alabama, Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri, Stanford, Butler and Temple, among others.

He just felt like it was the right time to step away and also felt like it was his job to leave the team with a strong base of talent. Then, the face of Belmont basketball joked, “the sad thing is that no one tried to talk me out of it!”

When asked what he is most proud of, Byrd said he tried to succeed without taking short cuts.

“I think succeeding in wins and losses and championships and that sort of thing, without giving in to doing all the kinds of things people choose to do to short cut their way to success,” shared Byrd. “There were some things we weren’t going to do. We weren’t going to break the rules. We weren’t going to be unfair to any of our players.”

Byrd steps down with a career conference winning percentage of .797 (447-114) ranks second in NCAA Division I, behind only Mark Few of Gonzaga.

But of even greater significance to Byrd, Belmont established an unparalleled standard of academic achievement among NCAA Division I programs. Since 2001, Belmont leads the nation in Academic All-America selections (17, including Dylan Windler in 2019) and is one of only three programs (along with Davidson and Holy Cross) to rank among the nation’s best every year since inception of the Academic Progress Rate (APR).

Dr. Fisher says he has an impossible task of replacing the legendary Rick Byrd.

Today, one of the true greats in the game of college basketball steps down.

Do Good

 

Editor: Portions of this story and cover photo are part of a press release from belmontbruins.com.