UMBC's Monroe resigns

Oct 10, 2012 - 9:14 PM Catonsville, MD (Sports Network) - University of Maryland-Baltimore County head men's basketball coach Randy Monroe resigned Wednesday, the school announced in a statement.

Monroe completed eight seasons (2004-2012) as head coach at UMBC after serving as an assistant with the Retrievers for 10 seasons. With 245 games coached, he leaves the program after directing the third-most games in school history, finishing with a career mark of 85-160.

In 2007-08, Monroe guided the Retrievers to its lone America East Conference title and NCAA Tournament appearance, as the team finished with a school record 24 victories (24-9). However, UMBC has won just 13 games total over the past three seasons and posted a 4-26 mark in 2011-12.

"We appreciate all that Coach Monroe did for our basketball program and our community during his long tenure at UMBC," said UMBC athletic director Charles Brown. "We wish him nothing but success in his future endeavors."

Aki Thomas, an assistant on Monroe's staff for the past five seasons, will take over immediately as acting head coach just one month away from the Retrievers' season opener, said Brown.

Thomas, 33, previously worked as an assistant at Howard University from 2004-07, and played at both the University of Colorado and Howard as well as professionally in Venezuela.

"Aki brings an excellent playing and coaching background to the position," Brown said. "He has strong communication skills and will fit into our program in a very positive way. I am confident that he will be able to support our student-athletes during this time of transition. I am excited about this year's men's basketball team and feel that we can compete for the America East Conference title."

The Retrievers tip off the 2012-13 season with a Nov. 9 contest against the Penn Quakers in Philadelphia.