UGA fires Mark Fox

In a somewhat expected move by the school, Georgia has fired men’s basketball coach Mark Fox.

According to ESPN, the move comes along with the school retaining Todd Turner and Collegiate Sports Associates to assist with the nationwide search for a new coach.

The former Georgia Bulldogs coach becomes the second coaching casualty in the SEC. Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy was dismissed earlier in the season.

Fox was hired in 2009 from Nevada and guided the Bulldogs to two NCAA berths in his nine seasons in Athens. However, Georgia was unable to make another appearance over the last three seasons.

At 18-15 this season, it also appears unlikely that UGA will make this year’s NCAA tournament as well. The Dawgs were defeated by Kentucky 62-49 Thursday in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament in St. Louis.

Overall, Fox leaves Athens with a 163-133 record over nine seasons.

Before accepting the UGA in ‘09, Fox led Nevada to three NCAA appearances in five seasons.

Fox is good friends with UK head coach John Calipari, who has been adamant in his defense of the embattled coach for the last two seasons while Fox was on the hot seat.