UT fires basketball coach Stan Joplin

Stan Joplin, who has been men's basketball coach at the University of Toledo for 12 seasons, was fired on Sunday.

The University of Toledo has fired men's basketball coach Stan Joplin, The Blade has learned.

University sources on Sunday night confirmed the firing of Joplin, who has been the Rockets' head coach for 12 seasons. Joplin's team had an 11-19 record this year a season after capturing the Mid-American Conference regular-season championship.

Athletic director Mike O'Brien met with Joplin Sunday in his office. Joplin, a star player for the Rockets from 1975-1979, had a career record of 203-155 at the school.

The athletic department had no comment Sunday night, but O'Brien has scheduled a news conference for 11 a.m. Monday at Savage Hall to discuss "the future of men's basketball" at UT, university spokesman Paul Helgren said.

The Rockets' season ended Thursday in the MAC tournament quarterfinals with a 77-57 loss to Kent State.

Joplin's contract at the school ran one more year, through the 2009 season. He had nine winning seasons, with three topping the 20-win mark.

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