Dan Munson: Despite being fired earlier this week, Long Beach State coach leads team to March Madness

CNN
—

Long Beach State Beach for men Basketball The team dances in March MadnessIt is led by a coach who reported last week that the university had decided to let go of him after 17 seasons at the helm of the program.

A week ago, the Shore were mired in a five-game losing streak to end the regular season, as their Cinderella hopes seemed to be fading. So it wasn't a big shock when… The university announced on Monday that he would part ways with longtime coach Dan Munson at the end of the season.

Almost as an afterthought in that announcement, Long Beach State added that Munson and Athletics Director Bobby Smitheran had mutually agreed that Munson would stay on as coach to see Beach through the postseason.

Next, Long Beach State caught fire in the Big West Conference Championship in Henderson, Nevada. The Beach defeated UC Riverside, UC Irvine and UC Davis on back-to-back days to capture the conference championship on Saturday and earn a ticket to the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

After winning the Big West championship, Munson said this run wouldn't be the end of his coaching career.

“I don't think this is my last,” Munson told ESPN. “I love training, I love teams. I need a new challenge. This is life, on to the next chapter.”

This will be Beach's first trip to the Big Dance since 2012, and the second appearance during Munson's 17-year tenure with the school.

Long Beach State will learn the fate of March Madness on Sunday night when the NCAA Tournament bracket is revealed.