A day after a stunning upset of state rival and no.18 ranked Washington State Cougars the Husky Athletic Department issued a statement confirming this would be Mike Hopkin’s last as the teams head coach. One of the nicer coaches in collegiate athletics Hopkins was unable to get the Huskies to be a perennial Pac-12 title contender.
“Mike has led the program with great integrity during his seven years at Washington, and remains a highly respected coach and one of the great gentlemen in the game,” Dannen said. “Everyone at the university is grateful for his service, his commitment to the experience of our student-athletes and his leadership within the department. We wish Mike, Trisha and their children the very best in the future.”
The Huskies will do some scoreboard-watching this weekend to determine who their opponent will be on Wednesday March 13th when they begin t Pac-12 Tournament play in Las Vegas. Washington cannot be seeded lower than 9th.
The Huskies enter the Pac-12 Conference tournament with a 118-105 overall record on Montlake, including 62-72 in conference play. His tenure was marked by a Pac-12 championship and NCAA Tournament appearance during the 2018-19 season as well as twice being recognized as the Pac-12 Coach of the Year.
Hopkins stated, “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Head Basketball Coach at the University of Washington the last seven years. Thank you to my players, staff, administration, fans, and alumni that have made this experience special and an awesome place for my family and me. The relationships we’ve made will last a lifetime.”
“As we transition to the Big Ten Conference this August, we do so with tremendous momentum, passionate fans and supporters, as well as a proud basketball tradition,” Dannen said. “I am confident we will identify a phenomenal leader for our men’s basketball program who will embrace our institution’s high expectations for academic, social and competitive success.”
Washington will immediately begin a national search for its next head coach.
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