Fran Dunphy to return to La Salle bench next season

Field Level Media|published: Wed 17th April, 13:57 2024

Dec 16, 2023; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; La Salle Explorers head coach Fran Dunphy looks on from the sideline against the Miami Hurricanes during the second half at Watsco Center. credits: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Fran Dunphy will return as La Salle's men's basketball coach in the 2024-25 season, he announced Wednesday.

At the conclusion of La Salle's season, following its elimination in the Atlantic 10 tournament last month, Dunphy said he would talk to university officials about next season before making any decisions.

It actually wasn't in question whether Dunphy, a 1970 graduate of the university, would return, he told The Philadelphia Inquirer.

"I never really left," Dunphy, 75, said.

Dunphy, a Philadelphia-area native, never strayed from home as a head coach. He's spent his career in the city's Big 5, as it is known, coaching at Penn (1989-2006), Temple (2006-19) and La Salle, where he has worked since 2022.

He has a career record of 611-361 (62.9 percent) over 32 seasons. He has taken his teams to 17 NCAA Tournaments, with a 3-17 record. At La Salle, Dunphy's record is 31-36.

Dunphy now is the second-oldest coach in men's Division I basketball, a few months younger than Florida State's Leonard Hamilton. He told The Philadelphia Inquirer that he is excited about contacting players in the transfer portal and building the roster for next season.

He just has yet to commit to beyond that season.

"I know I'm the basketball coach at La Salle tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, and we'll figure it out as we go along," he said. "I just want to do a good job for my school."

—Field Level Media