CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Following the conclusion of the 2024 campaign earlier this week, The Citadel Athletics and head bas    eball coach Tony Skole have reached a mutual understanding to part ways, per an official release from the department Friday afternoon.

"Tony has served as an integral part of our athletics department for nearly a decade, and his passion and dedication for not only the game of baseball, but The Citadel as well has remained consistently strong throughout his time here on campus." Director of Athletics Mike Capaccio said. "I'd like to personally thank him for his contribution to The Citadel Athletics, and join Bulldogs everywhere in wishing him luck in all his future endeavors."

The Bulldogs wrapped up the seventh season under Skole earlier this week at the SoCon Baseball Championship, closing out the 2024 campaign with a 21-32 overall record along with a 3-18 mark in conference play. He closed out his tenure as The Citadel head coach with a 123-216 overall mark. A 1991 graduate of The Citadel, Skole returned to Charleston in 2017 following 17 seasons at fellow league foe ETSU.

"It has been a tremendous honor to coach at my alma mater, but after sitting down with Mike [Capaccio] today, we mutually agreed it was in the best interest of The Citadel Baseball Program that we move in a different direction," Skole added. "I will forever be grateful for Mike, our administration, my assistant coaches all the other coaches in our department as well all the people that have supported our program on our campus over the last several years.

"It will always be a great disappointment to me that I could not get our program back to a championship level, but I am extremely proud of all our players, who are truly some of the best young men this world has to offer. I am hopeful that our program will soon achieve the championship dreams we all have worked towards. I leave with fond memories and heart full of gratitude."
 
The Citadel Athletics will immediately begin a national search for a new head coach.