Monson’s boss says timing of ouster at Long Beach State was designed to inspire March Madness run

Long Beach State's athletic director said the timing of his decision to part ways with coach Dan Monson was done with the hope it might trigger the exact run that led the team on its unexpected trip to March Madness. “My belief and hope is that by doing what I did and the timing of it, they would play inspired, and that's what they did,” Bobby Smitheran told The Associated Press on Thursday, a few hours before the Beach tipped off against Arizona. Monson's job status has been one of the most intriguing stories leading into the first round of the NCAA Tournament.