After 12 seasons, Nicholls State University and J.P. Piper have parted ways as it was announced on Tuesday that Piper will not return as the men’s head basketball coach.

Despite two exciting games in the Southland Conference Tournament this year, including a gutsy double-overtime win in the first round, the Colonels struggled to a 3-13 start to SLC play this year after traversing what turned out to be the 6th hardest schedule in the nation. The Colonels rode the momentum of a three-game winning streak at the end of the season to earn a spot in the tournament.

“We appreciate all of the hard work and effort that J.P. has put forth over the last 12 seasons,” Director of Athletics, Rob Bernardi said in a statement on Tuesday. “He is a valued member of our community and we wish him all the best.”

Piper took over the program in the midst of a controversy, assuming head coaching responsibilities after the mid-year firing of then head coach Ricky Blanton. Piper rode the success of two seasons, along with a high graduation rate among his players during a time of transition in the University’s administration to entrench himself as the head man. Under his time as head coach, Nicholls built a reputation for defensive minded teams that ran a precise motion offense.

Piper’s team, like this season’s, often traveled to some of the nation’s biggest basketball programs in the non-conference portion of the schedule, such as The University of Wisconsin, the University of North Carolina, Baylor University, the University of Michigan, among others. Despite loading up with mostly “blue-blood” opponents before SLC play, Piper still managed to post a 132-224 in his time in Stopper Gym.