Mountain State University Basketball Coach Bob Bolen was found Wednesday afternoon in his office responding to the out pouring of emotion over him being laid off from Mountain State University.
"I wanted to go down with the ship," Bolen said, as he responds to over 200 phone calls and emails from supporters and friends.
Bolen along with his coaching staff and whole athletic department were included in MSU's lay offs after the Higher Learning Commission denied accreditation from the university.
"I wish I was standing on Kanawha Street fighting to keep this university alive to the end," but Bolen said the time for tears is over, "I will be employed for 56 more days I will fight for Mountain State for 56 more days."
Bolen plans to help players and coaches find jobs and scholarships in the next 56 days.
Assistant Basketball Coach, Artis Maddox, is getting his resume ready to find his next job.
Maddox admits the pressure is on him with a baby on the way in January, but he remains hopeful.
Maddox said Beckley has become a second home for him and his family, "I see Coach Barksdale as a father figure Coach Bolen like a big brother, and just to see all that crumble with in the last week or two is very sad, but its life, and life goes on."
Bolen said he isn't looking forward to leaving Beckley, "I'm going to leave, but I don't want to. It's too hard to talk about."
According to Bolen six basketball players have been transferred with scholarships to other schools.
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