SLU fires Soderberg following 20-win season

ST. LOUIS -- Saint Louis coach Brad Soderberg was fired Tuesday after five seasons, a move tied to the school's new $80.5 million arena under construction.

The school announced the move in a statement that said the success of the Chaifetz Arena, scheduled to open for the 2008-09 season, was contingent on a program that could contend for conference championships.

Saint Louis was 20-13 last season, Soderberg's first 20-win season and the school's first 20-win season since 1997-98, and finished in the middle of the pack in the Atlantic-10 Conference. But the Billikens haven't made it to the NCAA tournament since 2000.

Soderberg produced NIT bids in his first two seasons at Saint Louis, but the school did not make it to the postseason his final three seasons. He's 80-74 overall with a career record of 211-147.

The school said it will begin the search for a replacement immediately. It said Soderberg was fired after an "extensive review of the state of the men's basketball program" since the end of the season.

The move came two days after the annual team banquet and six days after Soderberg signed a pair of recruits to national letters of intent.

The school will return four starters, losing only senior center Ian Vouyoukas. Forward Tommie Liddell, who will be a junior, led the team in scoring.