SMU Head Men’s Basketball Coach Rob Lanier Fired

Rob Lanier was let go on Thursday after two seasons of leading the men’s basketball team at ACC-bound Southern Methodist University.

In 2011, Lanier served as the Gators’ assistant coach.

Lanier In the lead, Mustangs
The SMU Mustangs fell to Indiana State 101-92 on Wednesday in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament this season. Under Lanier, the Mustangs (20–13) had a 30-35 record the previous two seasons and a 16–20 record in AAC play.

The Mustangs will enter the ACC the following season, and as they expand into new sports, they are looking for a new coach.

Lanier’s History
After three seasons as an assistant coach at Georgia State, Lanier guided the team to the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Lanier led Georgia State to a Sun Belt championship while he was the team’s coach. He had guided Siena to the tournament twenty years earlier. He assisted Siena in defeating Alcorn State in a First Four NCAA tournament game while serving as the team’s coach.

Later, SMU employed him.

Lanier took Tim Jankovich’s place as SMU’s head coach. Jankovich left the Mustangs after six seasons.

Additionally, Lanier has served as an assistant coach for Hall of Fame coaches, such as Billy Donovan, the former coach of Florida. Additionally, he has collaborated with Rick Barnes in Texas and Tennessee.

Lanier’s Most Recent
Following Lanier’s abrupt departure from the Mustangs, Rice University selected Lanier to be their new head basketball coach. This will be his fourth position as head coach.

This will be Lanier’s tenth season as a Division 1 head coach, and he is a well-known coach.

When or if the Mustangs play Rice’s team in the ACC, it will be interesting to watch how Rob Lanier manages their squad.