Bayno apologizes, resigns from Loyola Marymount

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Bill Bayno resigned as basketball coach of Loyola Marymount on Monday while on an extended health leave and will be replaced by acting coach Max Good.

"Due to medical reasons, and on the advice of my doctors, I am resigning from my duties as head mens basketball coach at Loyola Marymount," Bayno said in a statement issued by the school. "I sincerely apologize for any disappointment this might cause the fans, the administration, the students and most importantly my players, their families and my coaching staff. I care deeply for them all and I will always be available to help in any way I can in basketball and in life."

Good, in his 15th season as an NCAA head coach, signed a multiyear contract to take over the program as the 25th coach in school history. He coached the past eight seasons at Bryant College before coming to Loyola as an assistant to Bayno. He also coached at UNLV for one season and five seasons at Eastern Kentucky University.

The 66-year-old Good has an NCAA coaching record of 229-225 including 1-11 at Loyola entering Thursday night's game against once-beaten Saint Mary's. The Lions, who have a limited roster of just seven healthy scholarship players and a difficult non-conference schedule, is 1-16 overall this season.

"In naming Max Good our head coach, we are committing to the direction that this staff has established for the future of LMU basketball," Loyola Marymount athletic director Dr. William Husak said. "I believe our current players and those who will be Lions in the years to come, will have the very best LMU experience to develop as basketball players, scholars and people because Max Good will be at the helm.

"The LMU family wishes Bill continued progress in his comeback from the emotional distress triggered by responsibilities associated with being a head coach," Husak said. "Bill Bayno will always be a Lion."

The 45-year-old Bayno signed a five-year contract to coach the Lions last April after an eight-year absence from college basketball. He spent the previous five years as an assistant and scout with the Portland Trail Blazers. Before that, he coached the Yakima Sun Kings in the CBA for 11/2 seasons and coached in the Philippine pro basketball league in 2002.

Bayno guided UNLV to a 95-65 record and two NCAA tournament appearances from 1995-2000. He was fired during the 2000-01 season after allegations he broke rules in the recruiting of Lamar Odom in 1996 and 1997, but the NCAA cleared him of wrongdoing. He later filed a wrongful termination suit and received a settlement from UNLV.

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