The Binghamton Bearcats Make a Coaching Change

The writing was on the wall and on Monday, March 1st, it happened. Tommy Dempsey will not be coming back next year as the head coach for the Binghamton Bearcats. He was put in a tough spot after the Kevin Broadus and Mark Macon years.

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The university announced Monday that Dempsey's contract will not be renewed. Current Assistant Coach Levell Sanders will take the helm for the 2021-2022 season and a new coach will be selected in 2022, according to the University.

In 2009, the Bearcats made their first appearance in the NCAA tournament and were defeated by the Duke Blue Devils. It went downhill from there fast and the program exploded from within.

Kevin Broadus brought in high-risk basketball players with questionable academic qualifications. Binghamton faced academic fraud and many off-court issues with their players. Coach Broadus was suspended with pay and his contract was bought out.

He didn't leave empty-handed after he got over a million dollars and returned to Georgetown as one of their assistant coaches. Mark Macon took over and Dempsey replaced him in May 2012.

He inherited a team that had won only 2 games the year before. It would be an uphill climb for Dempsey because of the scandal and increased academic qualifications to play for the team.

Dempsey is known as a man of integrity and well-liked by all that come in contact with him. I was fortunate to talk with him a few times and he couldn't have been nicer. He gave us his heart and soul for 9 years but in the end, it wasn't enough. He ended the season with a 4-14 record and a first-round loss in the America East tournament.

Sanders on the other hand has been with the Bearcats since 2019. He is a former All Big East team selection back in his playing days at Seton Hall, the university explained in a press release.

Sanders went on to coach including the All-Czech Republic League with Coach of the Year honors. He has been with the Bearcats since 2019 and he and his wife Pamela live in Binghamton.

Thank you Coach Dempsey for everything that you've done in our community and good luck to Coach Sander. I can't wait to see you at the Events Center next year.

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