Ray Giacoletti
The out-going Drake coach put it this way: “It’s on me.” Ray Giacoletti resigned as Bulldog basketball coach in the midst of a 1-7 start in the season. Athletic Director Sandy Hatfield Clubb says Giacoletti made the decision after Saturday’s overtime loss to Fresno State.
“Ray is a man of great character”, said Hatfield Clubb. “He is respected by his team, his peers, this university and particularly by me.”
Giacoletti took the Drake job after serving as an assistant coach at Gonzaga and led the Bulldogs to a 15-16 record in his first season at the helm. But Drake followed by winning just nine games the following season and slumped to 7-24 this past season.
“I am very honest with myself”, said Giacoletti. “I believe it can happen at Drake and will happen at Drake. It is just not going to be with me.”
Assistant coach Jeff Rutter has been elevated to head coach.
“We have a tremendous group of young men on our team”, said Rutter “We are confident we can continue to provide a team that Drake University and the community of Des Moines will be proud of.”
The Bulldogs return to action Saturday by hosting Jackson State.