April 9, 2007

UT Arlington announced Donna Capps has resigned as the head women's basketball coach to accept an administrative position with the Mesquite (Texas) Independent School District Monday.

Capps was named the 2007 Southland Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Mavs to their first outright conference title and to the team's second NCAA Tournament appearance in three seasons. The Mavericks' 24-9 record set a school and conference record for consecutive wins with 19.

"The opportunity to move into administration was something I could not pass up at this time," said Capps. "I appreciate all the support the community and fans of our program displayed over the past seven years. I think we have built a program the University can be proud of. "

Capps finished her seven-year collegiate career with a 119-89 (.572) record and was named the SLC Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2007. The 119 wins are the most by a head women's basketball coach in program history.

"We appreciate Donna's service and significant contributions to our intercollegiate athletics program and University," said UT Arlington Athletics Director, Pete Carlon. "I've known Donna as an outstanding coach and role model ever since we worked together 30 years ago in the high school setting. She has developed a great program that has produced terrific results. The program is regarded as one of the most well respected and highly successful women's basketball programs in the country and has set some high standards for us to maintain. We are certainly going to miss her and we wish her the best as she begins her career in an administrative role."

This season's 24-9 mark also set a school record for wins in a season. It caps off three consecutive 20-plus-win seasons at UT Arlington, including the program's first SLC Tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2004-05 with a 21-10 season. In between, the Mavs ended the 2005-06 season 20-9 and runner-up during the regular season. In 2003-04, Capps' team advanced to the SLC Tournament finals and finished the year 19-12.

Capps began her head-coaching career at North Mesquite High School where she was the head coach from 1978-90. She spent one season at Mabank before eight seasons at Crandall High School. In all, she won 510 high school games before joining UT Arlington in 2000.

A national search for a replacement will begin immediately, said Carlon.

- utamavs.com -