Jimmy Patsos out as Siena basketball coach after five years

Siena men's basketball coach Jimmy Patsos is out after five seasons.

Siena announced late Friday afternoon that it had come to an agreement where Patsos resigned and the school bought out the remaining three years of Patsos' contract after the Saints went 8-24 this year, tying the most losses in program history. That failure on the court was compounded by controversy away from it.

Patsos was signed through the 2020-21 season with a base salary that was $369,943 in 2015-16, according to the most recent Internal Revenue Service Form 990 filed by Siena.

"Siena's founding Franciscan tradition calls upon us to honor the fundamental dignity of every person. Our core values demand compassion and help shape a community where all should feel welcomed, respected, and cherished. As we look forward to a new chapter in Siena men's basketball, our shared commitment to upholding these ideals will continue to guide us," said Br. Ed Coughlin, the college president.

The Times Union reported last week Siena retained an outside law firm to examine reports that Patsos verbally abused a student manager who has obsessive compulsive disorder. The student filed a formal complaint with the school's president in February. Members of the team were interviewed by the attorney and Siena's Title IX coordinator.

"I have denied and continue to deny any accusations of wrongdoing, but it is clear that it would be impossible to coach and recruit for Siena in this atmosphere and I would never want to do or say anything that would be harmful to the team or the school," Patsos said in a statement issued by his attorney, Dick Walsh. "I am still not sure how we got to where we are today; but at this time, I believe it would be best for all concerned if I was to leave Siena and pursue the next challenge in my lifetime of helping boys become men (through) college athletics."

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