TUSCALOOSA, Ala., Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Alabama men's basketball Coach Mark Gottfried quit Monday with more than two years left on his multimillion-dollar contract.
Assistant coach Phillip Pearson was named interim head coach to finish out the season and will make his debut Thursday at Arkansas.
Director of Athletics Mal Moore said in a statement that he accepted the resignation.
"I respect Mark's decision and will begin immediately working on a permanent replacement," Moore said. "I agreed with him that it is in the best interests of the men's basketball program for us to move in a different direction."
Gottfried, 45, signed to a six-year contract worth $1 million a year in June 2005. He led his alma mater to a 210-131 record since 1998.
"My No. 1 priority is to do what is best for the University of Alabama, this basketball program, and these young men," Gottfried said following a meeting with Moore. "Mal 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."
The Crimson Tide (12-7) began this season 10-3 but have gone 2-4 since, including a 2-3 mark in SEC play.
Gottfried led the Crimson Tide to five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 2002-06, reaching the final eight in 2004.
He spent three seasons as head coach at Murray State (1995-98) prior to joining Alabama. Gottfried has a career record of 278-155 in 14 seasons as a college head coach.
