Dec. 5, 2003

WACO, Texas - Baylor University head volleyball coach Brian Hosfeld has resigned his position to pursue other opportunities, Director of Athletics Ian McCaw announced Friday.

"We appreciate the contributions that Brian made to our volleyball program over the last eight years and wish him success in his future endeavors," McCaw said.

The winningest coach in the program's history, Hosfeld's teams fashioned an eight-year record of 129-133 (.492), including a 55-105 (.344) mark in Big 12 Conference play, and earned the only two NCAA Tournament invitations in school history (1999 and 2001). His 2003 squad finished 12-22 overall and tied for eighth in the Big 12 Conference with a 4-16 record.

"This was a difficult decision to make, but I feel this is the time for me to move on," said Hosfeld. "I've made many close friends here at Baylor, and I've definitely grown as a person and as a coach during the past eight years.

"I'm very appreciative of the opportunity afforded to me by Baylor and its administration," he added. "Given the youth, talent, and depth of this team, the future of Baylor volleyball should be a bright one. I only regret that I will not be a part of it."

A native of Long Beach, Calif., Hosfeld's best season on the Baylor bench came in 1999, when he led the Bears to a school record-tying 26 victories, a school-best 13 Big 12 Conference wins, the school's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance and a final national ranking of No. 20.

McCaw said that a national search for Hosfeld's successor would begin immediately.