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It was long speculated that associate head coach Eugene Burroughs would be leaving the program ever since Chambers discussed the possibility at the annual hoops banquet in April. Today, Penn State finally got their answer, and it wasn't what they were hoping for. Burroughs will return to his old stomping grounds at Marist College as an assistant coach, a role he previously held from 2000-2004. Coincidentally, he'll be working under former Ed DeChellis assistant and current Red Foxes head man Jeff Bower. From the Marist press release:
"He brings a great deal of experience at institutions that combine high academic standards in a highly competitive environment. His experience in the Big Ten and Patriot League, and his understanding of Marist College from his past experience give him a well-rounded perspective. His playing experience at Richmond and NCAA Tournament success as a player provide role-model opportunities for our current players."
All reports indicate this move is not for basketball reasons, but for "family concerns" that seem to have cropped up this summer, which hoops SID Brian Siegrist seemed to confirm in this tweet:
@standoutstar No worries. Burroughs left for personal reasons, we've been expecting for awhile. Still expect good things in 13-14.
— Brian Siegrist (@PSUSTRETCH) May 21, 2013
Burroughs' departure leaves a huge hole in Chambers' staff, no doubt about it. He was the primary recruiter and was instrumental in Penn State's foray into the wilderness of Philadelphia, so Chambers will need to find a replacement that can continue working the scene in that region. Considering the program seemed to be alert to this unfortunate possibility for some time, expect to hear word of a replacement sooner rather than later.
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