Report: Drake fires basketball coach Mark Phelps

Drake University has fired men's basketball coach Mark Phelps according to CBSSports.com.

Phelps' overall record of 77-86 is the most wins of any previous Drake coach in his first five seasons. The team finished 15-17 in 2012-2013, tied for seventh in the Missouri Valley Conference and lost to Creighton in the conference tournament quarterfinal. The Bulldogs' best MVC finish under Phelps was a tie for third in 2011-12. Drake's win in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament was the Bulldogs’ first postseason victory since 1975.

A disappointing followup to that 18-16 finish in 2011-12 resulted in an attendance drop to 3,926 per game in the Knapp Center which holds a capacity of 7,102.

On Saturday, Phelps told the Des Moines Registerhe expected to be back next season.

“I have nothing but great anticipation for next year,” Phelps said.

“Whether or not you deserve that as a coach, that’s not up to me,” he said. “I have leadership. I’m responsible for our basketball program and the men in that locker room, and there are people that have a lot more responsibility over me that make those decisions.”