KTUL.com - Tulsa's Channel 8 - News, Weather & SportsTU Women Lose to ECU; Thomas-Swinson Let Go

Tulsa - The contract of University of Tulsa women's basketball coach Charlene Thomas-Swinson has not been renewed, it was announced tonight by TU's Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham.

Tulsa finished the season on Wednesday night with a 71-62 loss against East Carolina in the first round of the Buick Conference USA Women's Basketball Championship. The Hurricane closed out the 2010-11 campaign with an overall 5-20 record and a 1-15 C-USA mark.

"Based on the overall performance of our women's basketball program over the last six seasons we've chosen not to renew the contract of Coach Thomas-Swinson," said Cunningham.
 
Thomas-Swinson compiled a 72-103 record in six years as the Tulsa head coach. In her first season, she led the Golden Hurricane to a school record 26-6 record and a 13-3 Conference USA mark for first-place in the league. Tulsa made the school's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance that same season, as the Hurricane upset fifth-seed North Carolina State.
 
Thomas-Swinson was the ninth head coach in school history and the third coach since the women's basketball program was re-established in the 1996-97 season.
 
The University of Tulsa will conduct a national search for its next women's basketball coach. The university will not comment on potential candidates.