EDINBURG - The University of Texas-Pan American athletics department decided Friday not to renew men's basketball coach Tom Schuberth's contract. The three-year deal Schuberth signed in April 2006 expires March 31.

Schuberth was placed on administrative leave with pay until his contract ends. A search for his replacement will begin immediately.

Interim Athletic Director Ricky Vaughn declined to comment and gave no reason as to why Schuberth was let go. Vaughn said in January that he would not make a decision on the coach until the season was over. Earlier this year, Schuberth expressed his desire to return.

Schuberth was 42-45 in three years as the coach. The Broncs were 10-17 this season. The program has been under investigation since October for possible NCAA rules and regulations violations.

The athletic department has been unusually tight-lipped about the investigation and everyone from Vaughn to John Edwards, the Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services who also oversees the athletic department, will not comment about the investigation. Edwards did not return phone calls seeking comment.

It is unclear why the school would release the coach before the findings of the investigation were released and why so soon after the season, which ended Wednesday with a 63-49 win over the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Director of University of Public Relations Sandra Quintanilla said Edwards gave the orders that the university would not comment other than for a news release issued on Friday. 

"People knew his contract was up after the three years but people are shocked this soon after the season," Broncs sophomore guard Nick Weiermiller said. "What are you going to do?"

Schuberth arrived at UTPA with a wave of enthusiasm, landing his first head coaching job after 24 years as an assistant.

Before coming to Edinburg, Schuberth was the associate coach at Central Florida from 2002-06. He also had assistant stints at Alabama-Birmingham (2001-02), Southeast Missouri State (1997-01), Memphis (1992-97), Louisiana-Monroe (1983-92) and North Alabama (1982-83).

Schuberth, who is known as a strong recruiter with many connections, helped recruit the top recruiting class in the nation while at Memphis.

In his first season at UTPA, he led the Broncs to a 14-15 record a seven-game improvement from a 6-24 output the previous season. Last season, the Broncs were 18-13, one of the best records in recent years.

In three seasons under Schuberth, the Broncs were 26-8 at home, 8-6 against the Southland Conference and 16-11 against independent programs. In the two years before he arrived at the school, UTPA was 3-16 against independents.

This season, however, the team was hindered by youth, injuries and ineligibilities.

"I definitely respect him," Weiermiller said about his former coach. "He gave me a chance to play here and experience Division I basketball."

Peter Rasmussen covers UTPA athletics for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4448.