Rick Scruggs out as Gardner-Webb’s coach after 15 seasons

Scruggs fired by Gardner-Webb

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. — Rick Scruggs is out after 15 seasons coaching at Gardner-Webb.

School officials said Friday that they would not bring him back next season.

Scruggs was 199-218 at Gardner-Webb, and the Runnin’ Bulldogs were 8-21 this season and 5-13 in the Big South. They did not qualify for the Big South tournament because VMI claimed the No. 8 seed by a tiebreaker.

Scruggs, whose career record is 377-333 after 23 seasons, led Gardner-Webb to the biggest victory in school history two seasons ago when the Bulldogs knocked off Kentucky in the second round of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic.

Vice president for athletics Chuck Burch said in a statement that Scruggs “played an important role in several memorable victories and moments for our basketball program.”