Liberty fires men's hoops coach Layer after 8-24 season

Dale Layer is out as the men's basketball coach at Liberty.

Athletic director Jeff Barber says the school has hired a firm to begin conducting a nationwide search for Layer's successor.

The dismissal came on the same night the 11th-seeded Flames lost 80-70 to N.C.-Asheville in the first round of the Big South tournament. The loss left the Flames with an 8-24 overall record and just two wins in 18 conference games.

Layer compiled an 82-113 record in six seasons at Liberty. He led the Flames to the 2013 Big South championship and their third NCAA tournament berth.