LAKELAND, Fla.—Southeastern University Men’s Basketball Coach R-Jay Barsh announced his resignation after accepting an assistant coaching position at an NCAA Division I University.
Barsh was hired in 2012 and has spent the last seven years leading the Fire men’s program. He has posted an overall record of 129-86. Three times, in 2014, 2018, and 2019, he took SEU to the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship Tournament.
“R-Jay is a student of the game who brings a passion for his players to work each day,” said Southeastern University Director of Athletics Drew Watson. “He is a master technician, but what set him apart at SEU is the investment he made in the lives of the students he coached and in the culture of the University. I’m so appreciative of that.”
In his second season, Barsh took the Fire from a 15-17 record to a 27-7 mark which saw a run to the national semifinal. This marked Southeastern’s first trip to the national tournament, highlighted by a buzzer-beater 3-pointer by Dwayne Johnson to upset defending national champion and top-seeded Cardinal Stritch in the second round.
During the 2017-18 season, the Fire won The Sun Conference Tournament Championship as the No. 5 seed, winning three straight games on the road, which included an 87-80 overtime win in the title game.
“The last seven years, Southeastern has been a perfect scenario for me as a leader and coach to develop,” said Barsh. “The relationships I’ve developed on and off the court will be lifelong.”
Barsh’s new position will be announced in the coming days.
“I’d like to thank all players for trusting me in their development, as well as the administration at Southeastern of Dr. Kent Ingle, Dr. Chris Owen, and Drew Watson for giving a young guy an opportunity to honor God through basketball,” said Barsh. “I’m looking forward to continuing to build champions on the floor, in the classroom and developing character.”
Southeastern will conduct a national search for its next head coach.