Tuesday June 17th, 2025 6:03AM

Bays steps down as Brenau basketball coach

By staff reports
GAINESVILLE -- Gary Bays has resigned his position as head coach of the Brenau University Golden Tigers basketball team after five years with the program, according to an announcement by the school on Monday.

Bays started the program in 2006 and coached the team through its first five seasons. He compiled an overall record of 73-79 and 32-51 in conference play. Under his direction, the team qualified for the Southern States Athletic Conference tournament in each of the last three years.

"Coach Bays has done a great job building our basketball program and laying the foundation for what we anticipate will be a tremendously competitive program at both the conference and the national levels," Brenau athletic director Mike Lochstampfor said. "We truly appreciate his efforts during his tenure as coach of our basketball program."

The Golden Tigers narrowly missed qualifying for the conference tournament this season, as they closed out the year with a 13-16 overall record and a 5-11 slate in the SSAC. The team completed the 2010-11 season this past Saturday following a narrow loss on the road at conference foe Southern Wesleyan University.

During his 30-year collegiate coaching career, Bays racked up more than 475 wins and took four teams to national tournaments. Prior to coming to Brenau, Bays helped build the women's team at Warner University in Lake Wales, Fla., and guided the Lady Royals to three straight NAIA National Tournaments. Earlier he coached the men's team at Montana State University-Billings and both men's and women's teams at Warner Pacific College in Portland, Ore.

In addition to coaching basketball for Brenau, Bays also served as the department's Sports Information Director and Champions of Character liason with the NAIA.

A search will begin immediately for his replacement.
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