Ex-Air Force head coach Ardie McInelly in March 2006. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Air Force women’s basketball coach Ardie McInelly will not be returning next season.
“We felt that now was the right time to go in another direction in our women’s basketball program,” Air Force athletic director Hans Meuh said in a statement. “Our primary mission at the Academy is to build leaders of character for our Air Force and we will look to find an individual to help us to continue that mission. We wish Ardie well and thank her for her nine years of service to the Academy.”
The Air Force women were 57-201 during McInelly’s nine seasons in Colorado Springs. In the past two seasons, the Falcons failed to win a game in the Mountain West Conference. They finished 3-27 overall this past season, setting a program record for losses in a season. Air Force’s best record during McInelly’s tenure came in 2005-2006, when they went 13-15.
According to The (Colorado Springs) Gazette, McInelly had two years left on her contract and is owed $355,969.68 by the academy.
“I would like to thank the Academy for the opportunity that I and my staff have been blessed with to head this program. Though we did not obtain every objective we set out to reach at the start of our journey, I am proud to say that we served with honor, integrity, and service to others above self in our daily pursuit of excellence,” McInelly said in a statement.
