Southwestern Athletic Conference

Byron Rimm has resigned as head basketball coach at Prairie View A&M University.  Athletic Director Ashley Robinson made the announcement Wednesday morning. Assistant coach Byron Smith has been named interim head coach, effective immediately.

"Coach Rimm has represented Prairie View A&M University with class and professionalism during his tenure as head basketball coach," said Robinson. "He genuinely cared for his student-athletes and he went to great lengths to ensure that they would receive the total experience of being a Division I student-athlete on-and-off the court. This was not an easy decision, but sometimes we need to make tough decision to move the program forward.  I wish Coach Rimm well in his future endeavors."

The Panthers (1-18, 1-6) are off to their worst start in 10 seasons and currently on a five game losing streak.  The team opened the season losing its first 12 games before defeating Southern the opening weekend of Southwestern Athletic Conference play.  

Rimm started his career at PVAMU as an assistant coach during the 2005-06 season.  He was elevated to head coach prior to the 2006-07 season and became the first head coach since 2002 to make consecutive SWAC Tournament Championship game appearances that came in 2013 and 2014. In fact since the 2012-13 season, his teams have either played in the SWAC Tournament finals or semi-finals. 

In 2013, Rimm helped improved the University's annual Academic Progress Report (APR) submitted to the NCAA that showed PVAMU's men's basketball program posted the top score among men's basketball teams in the SWAC.  It marked the highest APR in program history with a score of 944. 

In 10 seasons, Rimm’s career ended with a record of 115-192.  He was never able to win a conference championship nor earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

About Interim Head Coach Byron Smith:

Byron Smith is in his third year on the PVAMU staff and has international experience coaching all levels of basketball. He has served as head coach of the Harlem Globetrotters and was an assistant coach at Texas A&M University, Texas Southern University and McClennan Community College. The Bossier City, La. native was a standout player at the University of Houston from 1989-91, twice earning All-Southwest Conference honors under Coach Pat Foster. Prior to joining the team at the University of Houston, Smith was an all-conference player at Tyler Junior College from 1988-89 and played at Northwestern State from 1987-88.