March 9, 2006

The University of Texas-Arlington Head Men's Basketball Coach Eddie McCarter announced his resignation today.

The announcement comes two days after the Mavericks dropped an 86-84 double-overtime game to Sam Houston State in the opening round of the Southland Conference Tournament. The loss ends a season where UTA went 14-16 and 7-9 in the Southland Conference for the seventh-seed in the postseason tournament. Five of the Mavs league losses came by a combined total of 16 points.

McCarter, the sixth head coach since the program turned to a senior college in 1959, has led the Maverick basketball program for the past 14 seasons. His 179 wins are the most in school history and ranks second in Southland Conference history. McCarter's overall record of 179-211 includes the school's first SLC regular-season championship in 2004 when the Mavs shared the title with Texas-San Antonio and Southeastern Louisiana. Since then, the Mavericks posted an eight and seventh-place finish in the league standings.

He served as an assistant coach in the men's basketball program from 1990-92 before being named the head coach in 1992.

"We want to thank Eddie for his 16 years of service to The University of Texas-Arlington," said Director of Athletics Pete Carlon. "Eddie is a man of great character and unquestioned integrity and I wish him well in his future endeavors."

A national search will begin immediately, according to Carlon.

- utamavs.com -