Former KU hoops star Danny Manning fired at Wake Forest, creating 1st Power 5 vacancy
Former Kansas basketball star Danny Manning is out as Wake Forest’s coach after six seasons, Demon Deacons’ athletic director John Currie announced Saturday.
Manning, who was the consensus 1988 national player of the year and is KU’s all-time leading scorer, was 78-111 in his six years with the Demon Deacons. His team went 13-18 in 2019-20, ending its year with a loss to Pittsburgh in the opening round of the ACC Tournament.
“After a comprehensive review of the men’s basketball program, and with the support of President (Nathan) Hatch and University leadership, I have determined that it is time for a change in our head coaching position,’‘ said Currie, formerly the AD at Kansas State. “We thank coach Manning, Julie (wife) and Evan (Manning’s son and Wake staff member) for their service to Wake Forest and for their commitment to our student-athletes and the Winston-Salem community over the past six years.”
Manning said: “I am very thankful for having had the opportunity to lead the Wake Forest men’s basketball program. I am very proud of the numerous student-athletes I had the pleasure of coaching, especially the student-athletes who earned their degrees. I am particularly thankful for all of the hard work my staff has put in through the years. I am so grateful to the Wake Forest community, who have made Winston-Salem a special home for my family and I from the second we stepped on campus in 2014. I wish the program nothing but success going forward.”
Former Wake player Randolph Childress, who was an assistant on Manning’s staff at Wake, will serve as interim coach. Former KU guard Steve Woodberry and former KU manager Justin Bauman were assistants on Manning’s staff for all six seasons. Rex Walters was Manning’s associate head coach this past season.
Manning told the Winston-Salem Journal on April 9 that he still expected to be back as coach for next season.
“I spoke after the (final) game and I told you I expect to be back, and that’s my mindset,” Manning told the Journal then. “Not only me but my staff, we’re moving forward on getting prepared for the upcoming season through this tough and challenging situation.”
Manning’s only NCAA Tournament appearance with Wake Forest came in 2016-17, when his team lost in the First Four to coach Bruce Weber’s K-State Wildcats.
Following that season, Manning received the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award and John Collins was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 19 overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft. He also coached three players (Collins, Jaylen Hoard, Doral Moore) who are now representing the Deacons in the NBA.
CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein reported Saturday that Manning will be owed more than $15 million as part of his buyout.
Wake Forest is currently the only Power Five school with a men’s basketball vacancy; much of the offseason coaching turnover has been muted because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Manning was previously an assistant coach on Bill Self’s staff at KU from 2003-12.
KC Star reporter Gary Bedore contributed to this story.
This story was originally published April 25, 2020 at 10:23 AM.
