Lipscomb basketball coach Lennie Acuff resigns, replaces Bucky McMillan at Samford
Acuff replaced Bucky McMillan, who resigned after the season and was named Texas A&M's coach.
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Acuff, 60, had been Bisons coach since 2019. Lipscomb went 25-10 this past season and won the Atlantic Sun Conference regular season and tournament championships.
After earning the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA tournament Lipscomb lost to Iowa State 82-55 in the first round. Acuff, who is from Huntsville, Alabama, posted a 110-71 record at Lipscomb. His career record, including 22 years at Alabama-Huntsville and three years at Berry College is 643-395.
'Lennie has led our program with integrity and a deep commitment to our student-athletes, and we are extremely grateful for the impact he has made on the Bison basketball program during his time at Lipscomb," Lipscomb athletic director Philip Hutcheson said in a release.
"This was a tremendous opportunity for coach Acuff to return to Alabama, where he has spent most of his life, and to be close to family − particularly his two adult children who live in Birmingham, to his parents and to his in-laws − while being able to continue coaching at the Division I level. While we are disappointed that he is leaving, we understand the attraction of being close to one's family and we wish him continued success in this new opportunity.'
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In addition to leading the Bisons to a return trip to the NCAA tournament Acuff guided the team to its fourth ASUN regular season championship and to its third consecutive 20-plus win season − marking only the second time in Division-I era program history this has been accomplished.
Hutcheson said Lipscomb will begin an immediate national search for its next men's basketball head coach.
In five seasons at Samford McMillan led the Bulldogs to a 99-52 record including back-to-back NCAA tournament berths in 2023 and 2024. Samford was 22-11 this past season and played in the National Invitation Tournament.
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Lipscomb basketball's Lennie Acuff resigns to become Samford's coach
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