Dave Rose Announces Retirement From BYU Head Coaching Job
Mar 26, 2019, 1:15 PM | Updated: 2:43 pm
Brigham Young Cougars head coach Dave Rose watches the game in Provo on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019. (Jeff Allred, Deseret News)
(Jeff Allred, Deseret News)
PROVO, Utah – Dave Rose has made it official, he’s stepping down as head basketball coach at BYU.
Saying that his “coaching soul” has made it clear that it’s time for him to retire, a tearful Rose announced his retirement from the program on the floor at BYU’s Marriott Center.
“This is going to be tough,” said Rose to begin his statement. “36 years I’ve been doing this, 22 at BYU, 14 as the head coach and today is the day I’m going to retire.”
BYU Men's Basketball – Coach Dave Rose https://t.co/dDuoydTxZh
— BYU Basketball (@BYUbasketball) March 26, 2019
The retirement press conference began with a statement by athletic director Tom Holmoe.
“Dave has been an outstanding coach at BYU and is recognized in the profession by his peers as one of the best during his tenure,” BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe said. “His teams have enjoyed a great deal of success at both the conference and national level and his legacy will long be remembered. Excellent players and teams under his leadership established many program records. We wish Dave and his wife Cheryl the very best as they begin the next chapter in their life. They will always be a part of the Cougar Family.”
Rose was promoted from assistant coach to the top job in 2005. Since then, the Cougars have had a golden era of success. In 13 of 14 seasons with Rose at head coach, BYU has played in either the NCAA Tournament or NIT. With the exception of this last season, Rose has guided BYU to 20-win seasons.
From 2009-11, Rose led BYU to back-to-back 30-win seasons. In 2011, with the help of national player of the year, Jimmer Fredette, the Cougars advanced all the way to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Dave Rose Announces Retirement From BYU
📝 https://t.co/fW3mJEdJee#BYUhoops pic.twitter.com/ImJkptLOOS
— BYU Basketball (@BYUbasketball) March 26, 2019
In his remarks, Rose stated that the thing he’ll miss the most are the relationships he built with his players and staff.
“What I’ll always remember are the players, the relationships that I’ve had with the guys, the coaches, that’s one of the things I’ll really miss – these coaches are my best friends and they have been. I’ve talked to every one of the coaches that have worked for me this morning over the years. I can’t thank those guys enough,” said Rose.
Speculation says that UVU head coach Mark Pope will be a frontrunner for the open position. Utah Jazz assistant coach Alex Jensen is also considered a potential candidate.
