By: Dave Cheng, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer

The most successful coach in Boston College Men’s basketball history is officially done as the Eagle’s head coach.  Al Skinner, who recently interviewed for the vacant St. John’s coaching position, has been fired as leader of the BC men’s basketball program after a rough season that ended with a 15-16 overall record, and 6-10 in the ACC.

“Coach Al Skinner and I met last Wednesday and agreed it would be mutually beneficial for us to part ways,” athletic director Gene DeFilippo said in a statement. “In our meeting, we discussed our philosophical differences and our concern for the future of our basketball program.”

DeFilippo also said that Skinner was not fired for interviewing for the St. John’s position.  According to two anonymous sources that spoke to the Associated Press, plans had been in the works to let him go for about a week now, but that the school kept it under wraps so that Skinner would be able to pursue other possible coaching jobs.

Skinner has won a total of 247 games, and lost 165, in his 13 seasons leading the Eagles to go along with seven NCAA berths since 2001.  However, Boston College has finished under .500 in two of the last three years and lost in the first round of the ACC tournament this past season.

According to Sports Illustrated, a BC official mentioned a poor recruiting class to go along with losing records and a decline in attendance for the past four years as reasons Skinner was let go.  To his credit, the coach was able to take some smaller names out of high school like Troy Bell, Craig Smith and Jared Dudley and turn them into NBA prospects.

Skinner will most likely not get the St. John’s coaching position, as rumors are that former UCLA head coach and ESPN analyst Steve Lavin is the current front runner.

What does this mean for the future of BC?

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