After nine seasons at the helm in Vestal, Binghamton University men's basketball coach Tommy Dempsey is out, with the school saying Monday it won't renew his contract.

Dempsey went 72-194 since 2012, and 34-108 in America East games. He was the program's longest-serving head coach since the team joined the America East 20 seasons ago.

Assistant coach Levell Sanders was promoted to interim head coach, the university athletics department said in a statement.

Dempsey took over a Bearcats team that ended the previous decade rife with scandal, and had earned a two-year contract extension in 2018 despite a ninth-place finish. 

"I want to thank Tommy for his many contributions towards Binghamton University athletics and our basketball program," said Director of Athletics Patrick Elliott. "Tommy guided our program and our student-athletes through challenging times, and always demonstrated a commitment towards integrity, academic success and citizenship."

Binghamton University didn't finish above sixth place in the conference that saw other SUNY schools like UAlbany and Stony Brook break through with successful seasons, and the Bearcats didn't win more than five conference games in Dempsey's stint. However, Dempsey does end his Bearcats tenure with double-digit-win seasons in four of the past five years.

The Bearcats' 2020-21 season, and Dempsey's time on the sideline, came to an end Saturday with a 77-60 loss to Hartford in the first round of the America East tournament.