Edinboro, Gannon to start searches for men's basketball coaches; Cleary, Jefferson won't return

Nearly one month after the end of the regular season, both Gannon and Edinboro have announced a change in leadership of their men's basketball programs.

Kelvin Jefferson will not return as the Gannon men's basketball coach next season and Pat Cleary will not return as the men's basketball coach at Edinboro.

Neither team made the PSAC tournament this past winter after playing their final games on Feb. 25. Edinboro went 7-20, including 5-17 in PSAC play to finish seventh out of nine teams in the PSAC West, and Gannon went 3-23, including 3-19 in PSAC play to finish eighth.

At 3 p.m. on Friday, Gannon athletic director Lisa Goddard McGuirk released the following statement: “We are grateful for the service Coach Jefferson has given to our men’s basketball program, University, and community. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

About 15 minutes later, Edinboro athletic director Katherine Robbins also released a statement on Cleary: “I want to thank Pat for his service to the Edinboro men's basketball program and the manner in which he has represented our campus. We feel the time is right to make a change to benefit our student-athletes and the men's basketball program.”

Cleary spent the past 10 seasons as the head coach at Edinboro after replacing longtime coach Greg Walcavich. Cleary accumulated a record of 96-144 and was named the PSAC West coach of the year in 2018. His 96 wins rank fifth in program history behind Walcavich (430), Jim McDonald (181), Sox Harrison (175) and Guy Conti (140).

Jefferson coached the Golden Knights for four seasons after replacing longtime coach John Reilly in 2019. Jefferson went 41-53 in four seasons with two PSAC tournament appearances in the three years the tournament was held. Jefferson's 41 wins ranks 12th in program history.

Contact Tom Reisenweber at treisenweber@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNreisenweber.

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This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Edinboro, Gannon men's basketball teams start search for new coaches