On Monday afternoon the Wyoming basketball program announced that head coach Larry Shyatt will be retiring from his coaching duties in Laramie. Shyatt, who returned to Wyoming in 2011 to finish what he started in 1997, will leave as one of Wyoming basketball’s most successful coaches. He brought a Mountain West title back to the Cowboys after a long drought and several head coaches. The 64 year old Shyatt said he plans on spending some time with his wife, children, and grandchildren, as well he and his wife’s mothers.
Larry Shyatt will leave Wyoming as one of its most successful head coaches, and he came at a time when the program desperately needed a boost to get back on the Mountain West and national radar. He led the Cowboys to the post season five times, one of those being the NCAA championship tournament in 2015. The Cowboys won the Mountain West title en route to that tournament berth, beating San Diego State. That was the first tournament appearance for the Cowboys since 2002. Shyatt was the fastest coach in Wyoming history to reach 100 wins. Shyatt finishes his Wyoming tenure with a 117-78 record in six seasons.
Shyatt had success recruiting players that wanted to come play in Laramie. He recruited Larry Nance Jr who was a first round pick in the last NBA draft. He also recruited Josh Adams who could also be a pick in the upcoming NBA draft. Several of his players have gone onto professional careers in the international basketball leagues. Two of his players were named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, and one player named Mountain West Player of the Year. His players also earned 18 all-conference picks.
Larry Shyatt’s players were also successful in the classroom, they achieved a 951 APR which was the highest in program history. Shyatt’s guiding hand was needed after the program fell into disarray in the classroom and APR fell to unacceptable lows.
Here is the note from Larry Shyatt to the fans on his retirement.
With the announcement of Shyatt’s retirement Tom Burman was hard at work to secure his next coach, and he didn’t have to look far to find him. Allen Edwards, an assistant under Larry Shyatt, will be the Cowboys new head coach. Edwards comes from a very good pedigree and will immediately step into the head coach’s seat. He is the 21st head coach in Wyoming basketball history.
Edwards has been with Larry Shyatt since 2011. Previous to that he was an assistant coach at Western Kentucky, Towson, Virginia Commonwealth, and Morehead State. Edwards was a part of two national championships at Kentucky. He left Kentucky and bounced around the CBA and IBL before going into coaching.
Edwards has been tutored and mentored not only by Shyatt but Pat Kennedy, Anthony Grant, Tubby Smith, and was coached by Rick Pitino. That kind of pedigree will come in useful as Edwards will inherit a very young team that will have just two seniors, Jason McManamen and Morris Marshall. Edwards has offered assistant coaching spots to current assistants Jeremy Shyatt and Scott Duncan and was hopeful that both would stay with the Cowboy basketball team. Edwards also mentioned that he looks forward to replacing his position. He gave no indication who he has in mind or if he’s reached out to anyone about the vacancy.
The Cowboys are fresh off of a disappointing season where they finished with a 14-18 record, going 7-11 in conference play. They were eliminated in their Mountain West tournament opener by Utah State.
Many former Cowboys offered their thoughts on Shyatt, as well as their support of Allen Edwards:
https://twitter.com/DCookeJr/status/712094455785005058
https://twitter.com/DCookeJr/status/712094645644165120
You're impact on the university of Wyo on and off the court will never be duplicated. You are 1/1. I'm thankful to have played for you.
— Charles Hankerson Jr (@RealHankersonJr) March 22, 2016
Coach Edwards is 1 of the hardest working, and most humble people I've met. There are few coaches in the nation who relate better to players
— Charles Hankerson Jr (@RealHankersonJr) March 22, 2016
Easy to bust your ass for a coach when there's so much love between. Top tier coaching/mentor there is and I say that with 110% confidence
— Lucas Martinez (@LukeyMartini25) March 21, 2016
Coach Shyatt has taken Wyoming basketball from the bottom to the top of the mountain west.. But his impact goes way father than making..
— Larry Nance Jr (@Larrydn22) March 21, 2016
..good basketball players. I know I came in as an immature boy, and left as a mature man. Coach shy has left a lasting culture of success!
— Larry Nance Jr (@Larrydn22) March 21, 2016
With that being said.. Wyoming basketball couldn't be in more capable hands than coach Edwards.
— Larry Nance Jr (@Larrydn22) March 21, 2016
Very thankful to have the opportunity to play for Coach Shy….he believed in me and gave me an opportunity when no other coach did…..
— Jason McManamen (@Jason23McM) March 21, 2016
No better person out there to have taken the reigns at Wyo. Proud to have called him my coach. Thanks for everything Shy #GoWyo
— Adam Waddell (@adamwaddell15) March 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/JoshTAdams14/status/712022471159885824
https://twitter.com/JoshTAdams14/status/712022861720911872