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VMI basketball coach steps down from his position after 11 years

By Brett Strohsacker

After another disappointing season, the VMI basketball team is looking to make changes in the program's leadership. Athletic Director Donny White announced last week that 11-year head coach, Bart Bellairs, has been reassigned to other duties in the athletic department.

White attributes this change to the need for new leadership.

“The last six years, we’ve been in a pattern in which we haven’t achieved this kind of success that we think we should have. So consequently we decided to make a change for new direction and new leadership.”

Bellairs led the Keydets to a 9-18 record this season, which marks their ninth losing season in his 11-year career. Despite being named state coach of the year in the ’95-’96 season, the Keydets have sputtered under Bellairs since then, winning only 50 of 170 games over the past six years.

Despite this recent lack of success, Bellairs is the all-time winningest basketball coach at VMI, and White is still appreciative of what he brought to the program.

“He does mean a lot to the program. He came in and did some things that other VMI coaches had not done, so we are very indebted to him because of his leadership in our basketball program.”

White still believes that Bellairs can contribute to VMI athletics, and has asked him to assume the position of marketing and promotion of athletic programs. Rather than buying out the five remaining years in his contract, White chose to reassign him to an area where he can still contribute.

“[Bellairs] has a real flair for those kind of things, so it’s probably a very good fit. He is a promoter in a lot of ways and has elevated our basketball promotions by virtue of his desire to do those kinds of things.”

White has yet to name a new coach, and would not reveal any specific candidates, but did mention that there was some interest in former Keydets who are currently coaching at the Division I level.