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Gottfried forced to resign as 'Bama hoops coach

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Jeff Goodman

Jeff Goodman is a senior college basketball writer for FOXSports.com. Check out his Yardbarker blog. MORE>>
 
Updated Jan 26, 2009 7:51 PM ET
     
 
Alabama coach Mark Gottfried has been forced to resign.
The Crimson Tide head man has taken the program to five NCAA tournament appearances and three NITs in 10 years at the helm, but the team has missed out on the NCAA tournament each of the last two years. "My number one priority is to do what is best for the University of Alabama, this basketball program, and these young men," Gottfried said in a statement released by the school on Monday afternoon. "(Athletic Director) Mal (Moore) and I sat down today and we talked. At that point, I notified him of my intention to resign as head coach of the men's basketball program." Gottfried will be replaced by assistant Phillip Pearson on an interim basis. Gottfried signed a six-year contract with Alabama in 2005 that made him Alabama's first $1 million basketball coach. The contract ran through 2011 and included a buyout if he was fired, but any financial terms tied to his resignation were not released. Moore said the school would being trying to find a new coach immediately. "Out of respect for our players and coaches, I will not comment on the progress of our search until it has concluded," Moore said in a statement. Alabama is 12-7 this season and 2-3 in SEC play, but its postseason hopes took a hit with the recent news that senior point guard Ron Steele has elected to end his career. According to sources, the reason Steele left the program was not because of a heel injury — but because he no longer wanted to play for Gottfried. Gottfried, 45, had a career mark entering the season of 198-124 at Alabama. However, he was without Steele for all of last season as the floor leader redshirted while rehabbing his knee — and also coached with Steele in and out of the lineup in 2006-07. Including three seasons at Murray State, Gottfried has a career record of 278-155 for a winning percentage of .642 in 14 seasons.

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