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Saint Mary’s College announced Monday that it has parted ways with Paul Thomas, the winningest women’s basketball coach in the program’s 45-year history.
Associate head coach Allyson Fasnacht will serve as the women’s basketball team’s interim head coach for the remainder of the season, the school said.
Thomas, 60, had been on paid administrative leave since late December following an internal investigation by Saint Mary’s that resulted in “a separation between the two parties,” per a school news release.
No other details as to why Saint Mary’s severed ties with Thomas were offered.
Thomas came to Saint Mary’s from Cal Poly Pomona, where he won Division II national championships in 2001 and 2002. In his first 16 seasons as the Gaels women’s basketball team, Thomas had a 293-213 record that included eight 20-win seasons and a 160-94 mark in West Coast Conference play.
Thomas earned his 300th career win at Saint Mary’s on Dec. 17 when the Gaels beat Pacific in overtime. It was the last game Thomas coached at SMC.
Saint Mary’s said a national search for a head coach will be conducted immediately following the season. The Gaels have lost four straight games and entered this week with a 10-12 record. This weekend, they play at Pepperdine on Thursday and Loyola Marymount on Saturday.
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