The rigors of producing winning basketball teams at the Air Force Academy caught up with women’s coach Ardie McInelly, who departs after nine seasons and a 57-201 overall record.
Jim Trego, the academy’s associate athletic director, said the school and McInelly reached a mutual agreement. Trego said McInelly didn’t initiate the meeting.
“We’ll be conducting a national search and will be looking for the best basketball coach, male or female, we can find,” Trego said. “We want to move this program forward, and believe it can be done.”
However, Trego claimed coaching women’s basketball at Air Force, with the admittance requirements and playing in the Mountain West Conference, makes the job one of the toughest in the NCAA.
McInelly wanted the announcement withheld until she had time to tell her team. The players returned Monday from spring break.
McInelly issued a statement expressing gratitude for the opportunity to coach at Air Force. Her last team went 3-27 overall and 0-16 in the MWC.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
