ABILENE – In a stunning turn of events, Grant McCasland informed ACU director of athletics
Jared Mosley on Sunday evening that he was resigning as the men's head basketball coach to become an assistant coach at Baylor University.
McCasland is leaving ACU after serving less than four months as the Wildcats' head coach and never coaching a game for the Purple and White. McCasland – who coached at Midwestern State the two previous seasons and 82 games in those two years – was introduced as the Wildcats' head coach on March 30.
"This was a totally unexpected opportunity for me and my family," McCasland said. "The only job I would have left ACU for was an opportunity to return 'home' to Waco where I played and have always dreamed of coaching. I'm leaving Abilene with a lot of mixed emotions because I truly believe ACU is a special place and that we were going to get that program turned around. I'm confident that the Wildcats have a bright future and I look forward to watching their progress."
Mosley said he couldn't blame McCasland for accepting the job at Baylor, even though it came just six weeks away from the beginning of the 2011-12 school year.
"The past 72 hours have been extremely hectic to say the least," Mosley said. "It is definitely bittersweet in that I hate to lose a quality head coach in Grant before we ever really got a chance to get things going, but the opportunity in front of Grant right now doesn't come along very often.
"I'm excited for him personally to be able to step in as an assistant coach at one of the top NCAA Division I programs in the country," he said. "There aren't many NCAA Division II coaches presented with those types of opportunities, which is a testament to the character and ability that Grant brings to the coaching profession. I certainly wish he and Cecilia and their family the best as they take on the next challenge."
