Tennessee State fires men's basketball coach Travis Williams after 2 seasons, he was 23-40

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee State has fired men's basketball coach Travis Williams after only two seasons.

Williams posted a 23-40 record that included a 5-25 mark this year.

In a statement announcing her decision Tuesday, Tennessee State athletic director Teresa Phillips said, "We want to move in a different direction and believe that this decision is in the best interest of Tennessee State and our men's basketball program."

Phillips says a nationwide search would begin immediately.

Williams was an assistant at Tennessee State from 2009-12 before replacing John Cooper, now the head coach at Miami (Ohio). Tennessee State went 20-13 and reached the Ohio Valley Conference championship game in Cooper's final season.

Tennessee State went 18-15 in Williams' first year before losing 25 games this season.