HUNTSVILLE – Shortly after the University of Alabama in Huntsville lost its first round game of the South Regional in the NCAA Division II tournament, word began spreading that head coach John Shulman would be leaving to take the same position at Central Arkansas.

College basketball insider Jon Rothstein reported on X (formerly Twitter) that sources say Central Arkansas will hire Shulman as its next head basketball coach.

Rothstein said the official announcement is expected this week.

UAH’s season came to an end Saturday with a 104-78 loss to Embry-Riddle in the Division II NCAA Tournament. The Chargers finished 2023-24 with a 21-11 record.

Shulman returns to the Division I level where he previously led Chattanooga to two NCAA Tournament berths from 2004-13.

He has served as UAH’s head coach for five seasons and has guided the Chargers to five NCAA Tournaments.

The Chargers sent a press release with details of Saturday’s loss. Nothing was reported regarding Shulman’s situation.

This was UAH’s sixth consecutive NCAA tournament berth and 16th all-time in the program’s 51 seasons.

The Chargers offense featured three players scoring in double figures, led by Athens native Tommy Murr at 17 points. Murr also added three assists while going 4-for-8 from the field, 3-of-5 on three-pointers and 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Luke Burnett (11 points) and Isaac Chatman (10 points) joined Murr in double-figures in the NCAA tournament quarterfinal matchup.

Chatman additionally pulled down a team-high five rebounds, while Nylan Thomas led the roster with four assists in 14 minutes of work.

Embry-Riddle, led by Malcolm Whitow’s 35 points, moves on to play No. 1 seed Nova Southeastern in the regional semifinals Sunday.