Embattled Alabama basketball coach Mark Gottfried resigns

Embattled Alabama basketball coach Mark Gottfried resigned Monday in the middle of his 11th season.

Assistant coach Philip Pearson is the interim coach for the rest of the season, athletics director Mal Moore said after an afternoon meeting with Gottfried.

“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 university.  “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.  I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity and the privilege to lead our men’s basketball program at Alabama for the past 10 and a half seasons. It has been a wonderful decade for me and my family, and I love the University of Alabama, but I feel that it is in the best interests of everyone involved. I want to thank our players, their families, our coaching staff and their families, and our great fans for all of their support over these last 11 seasons.“

Gottfried compiled a 210-131 record with the Crimson Tide, including a mark of 83-82 in Southeastern Conference games. He won one SEC regular season championship and led the team to five NCAA Tournament appearances. 

However, the highlights on his coaching resume have been in the past. Alabama (11-7 overall, 2-3 SEC) hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since the 2005-06 season. The Crimson Tide was invited to the NIT two years ago, but didn’t make a postseason tournament last year.

In its most recent outing, a regionally televised game against Kentucky, Alabama was outscored 16-6 in the final six minutes and lost 61-51. Alabama next plays Thursday night at Arkansas. Its next home game is Saturday night against Georgia.

“I accepted Coach Gottfried’s resignation,“ Moore said in the statement.  “I respect Mark’s decision and will begin immediately working on a permanent replacement.  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.  I want to extend my sincerest best wishes to Mark and his family, along with my personal thanks to Mark for his many years of dedicated service to our men’s basketball program.

“Out of respect for our players, I will make no further comment on Coach Gottfried’s decision.  I want to extend my complete support to our players and our coaching staff, which will be headed by interim head coach Philip Pearson.  We fully expect them to compete hard the rest of this season and I ask our loyal fans to rally in support of these coaches and players over the coming weeks of SEC play.

“Our process towards finding a new head coach will begin immediately.  Out of respect for our players and coaches, I will not comment on the progress of our search until it has concluded.”

Gottfried, a 1987 Alabama graduate, played guard for the Crimson Tide for three seasons (1984-85, 1985-86, and 1986-87) while starting 98 consecutive games for then-head coach Wimp Sanderson after starting his college career at Oral Roberts University (1982-83 season).