Kent State fires women's basketball coach

KENT, Ohio (AP) -- Kent State has fired longtime women's basketball coach Bob Lindsay.

Athletic director Joel Nielsen said Wednesday night that Lindsay will not have his contract renewed for the 2012-13 season. The Golden Flashes went 6-21 this season, only their third losing season in 23 under Lindsay, who went 418-256 at the Mid-American Conference school.

A national search for a replacement will begin immediately.

Nielsen said in a statement that the decision to relieve Lindsay was difficult. He said he decided it was time "in the best interest of our program to move in a different direction." He called Lindsay a "mentor and a great example for the young women that have been associated with our program."

Nielsen is confident the Kent job will be attractive to "great candidates."