Mike Maker relieved of his duties at Marist

Mike Maker is out at Marist after four years and 28-97 record. (Photo by Vincent Simone/NYC Buckets)

For the fourth time in the last decade, Marist will be making a change in head coaches, as the Red Foxes have parted ways with Mike Maker after four seasons.

Maker, who was 28-97 at the helm in Poughkeepsie, departs after a 6-25 record in which the program went 4-14 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play and was eliminated by Fairfield in the opening round of the MAAC Tournament Thursday night. He had one year remaining on a five-year contract he signed in 2014, when he was hired to replace Jeff Bower, who departed after one season for a front office position with the Detroit Pistons.

"I have the utmost respect for Mike in the way he led our men's basketball program," Marist athletic director Tim Murray said in a release. "From the day he stepped on campus, Mike guided our program with class and integrity. The program accurately represented our expectations in the classroom and community, but ultimately, we had to make a decision that was in the long-term best interest of the team."

Maker, 52, had been given an apparent vote of confidence last week leading into the MAAC Tournament, but plans had evidently changed in the past few days. Marist has four players set to enter their senior years in 2018-19, including third team all-MAAC selection Brian Parker.

A national search for Maker's replacement will begin immediately.