Canisius University will not renew Reggie Witherspoon's contract after eight seasons and is launching a search for its next men’s basketball coach.

The school termed the decision a mutual parting of ways in announcing Saturday that Witherspoon will not return. The move comes after an injury-depleted Golden Griffins team’s season ended with a 72-56 loss to Quinnipiac in the quarterfinal round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament on Wednesday.

The 63-year-old Witherspoon went 108-130 at the Buffalo-based school during his eight seasons, which included winning a share of the MAAC regular season title in 2017-18, and postseason berths in 2017 (CIT) and ’18 (CBI).

"In Reggie Witherspoon’s eight years as the head coach of Canisius men’s basketball, he led our program with class and integrity, instilling these important values in his student-athletes," Canisius University Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Bill Maher said. "I have known Reggie for more than 25 years, having worked with him for at least half of that time. The importance of the team, and the development of the young men in our program, has always been his primary focus. I am grateful for his positive impact on the Canisius campus and the broader Western New York basketball community. I thank Reggie, Dawn and the entire extended Witherspoon family for their time at Canisius."

"As we look to this next chapter of Golden Griffin men’s basketball, our goals are clear,” Maher continued. "We are determined to build a men’s basketball program that can compete for MAAC Championships and will do so with student-athletes who represent what is best about Canisius University. Leveraging intercollegiate athletics to better engage our alumni and community, while creating an engaging student experience, is an important element of our university’s strategic plan—Answer the Call. A successful men’s basketball program is essential in achieving our ambitions."

Witherspoon is from Buffalo, and took over at Canisius after Jim Baron abruptly retired in the spring of 2016. Witherspoon previously coached at the University at Buffalo, where he went 198-228 from 2000-13, and held assistant roles at Alabama and Chattanooga.

A national search will begin immediately.