Fordham has let head coach Dereck Whittenburg go after just five
games.
The news was reported on the school's Web site.
"We have great respect for Dereck as a coach and person, and
appreciate his contribution to Fordham, his integrity and his
dedication to the student athletes," Fordham athletic director
Frank McLaughlin said in a statement. "We wish him and his family
well."
"This was a difficult decision, but we felt that we needed a
new direction for the basketball program at this time," he added.
Whittenburg had a 69-122 record in six-plus seasons as the
Rams' head coach and will be replaced on an interim basis by
assistant Jared Grasso.
Fordham is 1-4 this season and its top player, guard Jio
Fontan, has reiterated his desire to transfer out of the program.
Fontan wasn't given his release this past summer but told the
New York Daily News on Wednesday that he does not intend
to play another game at Fordham and will transfer after the
semester.
