State College of Florida suspends college basketball program for 2023-24. Here’s why
State College of Florida on Monday announced a suspension of its men’s basketball program for the 2023-24 season.
In a series of tweets, SCF detailed the reasons for suspending the program and the next steps.
“With program leadership in transition with Coach [Tom] Parks’ well-deserved appt. at Casper Coll., few returning players, & no letters of intent signed by incoming Fall 23 basketball athletes, SCF is not positioned to ensure a strong or positive experience in accordance [with] our mission,” SCF’s athletic department tweeted Monday.
“The suspension will allow for an evaluation of the program, the overall investment in student life and enrollment collegewide, and basketball’s place in our strategic enrollment priorities.”
The other five collegiate programs: baseball, softball, women’s volleyball, women’s tennis and women’s beach volleyball are not impacted and will operate as planned for the 2023-24 season, SCF said on Twitter.
The Manatees lost their head basketball coach, Tom Parks, in April when they was announced he was returning to his home state of Wyoming to coach Casper College.
Parks was named SCF’s head coach in June 2018 and turned the Manatees around during his tenure. He won 72 games in five seasons, compared to the Manatees winning 22 games in the five prior seasons.
“I have been fortunate to turn around one of the most struggling programs in the toughest regions of junior college basketball,” Parks said when he was announced as Casper College’s next head coach.
Calls seeking comment from SCF were not immediately returned.
