Cal fired men’s basketball coach Mark Fox on Thursday, one day after the Golden Bears wrapped the season with a 3-29 record.

Fox was 38-87 in four seasons but said entering the Pac-12 tournament he was blocking out reports he wouldn’t be back in Berkeley.

“I don’t pay any attention to any of it,” he said. “It comes with the territory. I’m not a young coach anymore.”

Washington State defeated Cal, 69-52, in the first round of the conference tournament on Wednesday.

Cal finished 12th in the Pac-12, losing 15 consecutive games to end the regular season.

“I want to thank Mark for his unwavering commitment to our men’s basketball program,” Cal athletic director Jim Knowlton said. “He led the team through some challenging times, and always did so with the class and professionalism we have come to expect from him. Mark understood and embraced our university’s mission and ideals, and was always an exemplary representative of our department. I wish him the best of luck in the future.

“This was a difficult decision and one that I do not take lightly. After deliberately and holistically evaluating all aspects of our program, I felt a change was needed at this time. We will always be guided by the best interests of our student-athletes, as well as the values of our university.”

Fox, 54, previously coached at Nevada (2004-09) and spent nine seasons at Georgia (2009-18) prior to being named head coach of the Golden Bears.

He has a 324–263 career record, including a 123-43 run at Nevada.

Cal’s last NCAA Tournament appearance came in 2016 and the Golden Bears last won a game in the marquee college basketball event in 2013.

–Field Level Media