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Audubon dismisses Ricci as basketball coach

Popular and highly respected by his peers, Dave Ricci was known in Colonial Conference basketball circles as a coach who got the most out of his Audubon team.

Popular and highly respected by his peers, Dave Ricci was known in Colonial Conference basketball circles as a coach who got the most out of his Audubon team.

Ricci was dismissed as Audubon's coach last week after directing the Green Wave program for nine seasons over the last 12 years, including the last six.

"I didn't see it coming," Ricci said. "I'm not happy about it but I have to accept it. I thanked them for their time and support over the years."

Audubon athletic director Tony Carbone said Monday that it was "time for a change" in the direction of the program.

"Dave was a good coach, and he worked hard," Carbone said. "He was there for the kids. He put in the time. From my point of view, it was time to go in a new direction."

Ricci said when he was dismissed he immediately sent a text message to his players.

"I wanted them to know that this wasn't my idea, and I wasn't quitting on them," Ricci said.

Audubon went 3-23 this past season. Ricci said coaches around the league noted the Green Wave's improvement over the course of the campaign.

"Every coach we played the second time around told me how much he thought the kids got better and better," Ricci said.

Audubon was 9-18 in 2010-11. In 2009-10, the Green Wave went 16-11 and registered the program's first home playoff victory since 1982 with a win over Woodrow Wilson in the first round of the South Jersey Group 2 tournament.

Ricci, who teaches physical education at Audubon, took three years off from coaching to earn his master's degree. He said he might seek a position in school administration or could look to continue coaching.

"I'm up in the air right now," Ricci said.

Ricci was known as a coach who put 12 months into the job. He ran a summer program at Audubon and also was involved with the town's youth teams.

Ricci said he recently purchased sweatshirts for Audubon's successful fourth-grade team.

"I don't know what else I could have done," Ricci said.