After 36 seasons as the face of baseball at Wichita State, head coach Gene Stephenson has been fired.

“We have reached a decision to go a different direction with the leadership of our baseball program,” said WSU Director of Athletics Eric Sexton in a press release.

In an emotional press conference Tuesday, Stephenson spoke about the situation that led to his dismissal. He thanked the university, fans, and players that supported him over the years, and spoke “from the heart” without using a written statement.

“I love Wichita, I love Wichita State, I love all the players that have ever played for us,” said Stephenson. “They are like sons to me.”

The rest of the baseball staff was fired along with Stephenson, with pitching coach Brent Kemnitz remaining on staff. Kemnitz will be temporarily assuming day-to-day responsibilities and operations of the baseball program.

In the press release, Sexton said that negotiations had begun to extend Kemnitz’ contract to remain on staff past the 2014 season. Kemnitz has removed himself as a candidate for the head coaching position.

Stephenson said he was pleased to hear that Kemnitz would be remaining. The ex-head coach said that he asked for Kemnitz to remain on staff during a Monday meeting with Sexton.

Various media outlets began reporting Monday evening that Stephenson was given the option of resigning or being fired before the end of his contract in 2014.

According to The Wichita Eagle, Stephenson will receive his full 2013-2014 salary of $531,131.

“I am sorely disappointed about the way this went down,” said Stephenson. “I don’t think it was handled properly, but that’s not for me to decide.”

In the 36 years that Stephenson was head coach, Wichita State won more baseball games than any other Division I program with a career record of 1,837-675-3.

Stephenson took the Shockers to seven College World Series appearances, and won the national championship in 1989.

Under his command, the organization also achieved 20 Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) regular-season titles, 18 MVC Tournament titles and produced 54 All-American players.

In recent years, the Shockers have not been performing as well as many fans have hoped though.

This season marked the first since 2009 that Wichita State had competed in the NCAA Tournament. In 2009, they lost both games played in the Norman, Okla. Regional.

This year, the Shockers played in the Manhattan, Kan. Regional, losing their first game against Kansas State 20-11. In a last-ditch effort to continue in the double-elimination tournament, WSU lost to Arkansas 2-1.

The loss now marks Stephenson’s final game as a part of the program.

Stephenson built the baseball organization from the ground up to what it is today.

“36 years ago [when] we came there was not even a baseball team. There was nothing here,” Stephenson said. “No players, no equipment, no field, no practice field- anything.”

Even though Stephenson will no longer be coaching at Wichita State, he said he is hopeful that he can find a position elsewhere.

“I do want to coach again. I do hope that somewhere, somebody will want us,” he said.

A national search will begin immediately to find a replacement for Stephenson.