Basketball: Ricci out at Audubon

Dave Ricci, one of the good guys and hardest workers in South Jersey basketball, said Sunday that he has been dismissed as Audubon's head coach.

Ricci has been Audubon's coach for the last six seasons. He also was the Green Wave's coach from 2000-03 before taking off from coaching to pursue his master's degree.

"They said they wanted to go in another direction," Ricci said. "I wasn't happy about it but I thanked them for time and their support over the years."

Ricci, who is a phys-ed teacher at Audubon, said he hopes to land a job as an administrator but also might continue to coach "if the right opportunity presents itself."

Limited in size and talent, Audubon went 3-23 this season.

Ricci is known through South Jersey as a 12-month-a-year coach who ran summer programs at Audubon and was involved with the town's youth programs.

"I didn't see this coming," Ricci said.

-- Phil Anastasia