Longtime Central Connecticut State men's basketball coach Howie Dickenman is stepping down at the end of the season, he announced after Thursday night's 76-72 victory over Mount St. Mary's.
Dickenman, 69, has led the Blue Devils for 19 seasons, making three NCAA tournament appearances, but they have finished above .500 just once since 2007. Central Connecticut State has struggled mightily the past two seasons, going 5-26 and winning just three games in league play in 2014-15 and then going 4-22 and 3-12 in Northeast Conference play so far this season.
Dickenman entered the season with a 278-286 overall record at Central Connecticut State. His 282 wins rank second on the school's career list, behind only Bill Detrick (468), his former coach. Dickenman has the second-longest tenure as a head coach at his alma mater, behind only Jim Boeheim's 39 years at Syracuse.
A four-time NEC coach of the year, Dickenman led CCSU to its first NEC title in 1999-2000.
Before CCSU, Dickenman was an assistant coach at Connecticut for 14 seasons -- the final 10 coming under Jim Calhoun. Dickenman also was an assistant at Canisius and Central Connecticut State. He has 40 years of college basketball coaching experience.
Dickenman, who graduated from CCSU in 1970, became the first player in school history to reach 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds and is still the only Blue Devil to do so in three seasons.
The Hartford Courant first reported the news Wednesday, and Dickenman confirmed his decision to ESPN on Thursday prior to his official announcement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.