University opts to not renew O’Banion’s contract

Head coach Danielle O’Banion cheers her team on at the women’s basketball game held in the MAC Center on February 13th, 2016.

Kent State’s director of athletics, Joel Nielsen, said Friday that the Flashes will not be extending the contract of women’s basketball head coach Danielle O’ Banion. 

Kent State finished the 2015-16 season 6-23, including 3-15 in the Mid-American Conference, with all six of its wins coming at home. The Flashes ended their season with a loss to the Eastern Michigan University Eagles in the first round of the MAC tournament. In four years under O’Banion, the Flashes were an overall 21-98, 11-59 in the MAC.

This past season O’Banion was named winner of the USBWA Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award.

Nielsen said that a nationwide search for a new head coach will start immediately.

Eric Pitcher is a sports reporter for The Kent Stater. Contact him at [email protected]