Columbia’s Jim Engles Steps Down

Columbia University announced Monday that head men’s basketball coach Jim Engles will “step down from his role, effective immediately.”

Columbia went 12-15 this season, 1-13 in the Ivy League, ending the season on a seven-game losing streak.

Engles did not have a winning season during his eight-year tenure at the school.

“Columbia has meant so much to me, and I’ve given everything I have to make this program the best it can be,” Engles said in a statement. “We may not have accomplished our ultimate goals, but I’m proud of the culture we built and the student-athletes we developed on and off the court. I also want to thank Peter Pilling for his support throughout the years and know the future of this program is bright.”

Engles re-joined the Lions in 2016 after an eight-year run with NJIT. He previously served as an assistant coach for Columbia from 2003-08. Engles guided the Lions to 71 victories, highlighted by non-conference wins over Temple in 2023 and Villanova in 2024. He coached six All-Ivy League selections, including a trio of 1,000-point scorers, and has had nine players go on to play professionally during his tenure.

“We are grateful for Jim’s leadership during his time at Columbia,” said AD Peter Pilling. “First and foremost, Jim is an outstanding person who dedicated a great deal of effort to achieving success here. We wish Jim and his family all the best.”

The school said it will conduct “a national search for a replacement.”

Columbia is the second Ivy League school with an opening after Penn parted ways with head coach Steve Donahue on Monday.