Northern Arizona basketball Coach Pat Rafferty cited personal reasons for resigning midway through his second season at the Flagstaf school.
Lumberjack athletic director Tom Jurich said Tuesday night that Rafferty tendered his resignation earlier in the afternoon.Jurich said assistant Harold Merritt will coach the 'Jacks Wednesday at home against Texas Southern.
"We had no idea whatsoever that it was going to happen," Jurich said.
The Lumberjacks were 2-25 overall and 1-15 in Big Sky Conference play in Rafferty's first season. This year, Northern Arizona is 6-10 overall and 1-5 in the Big Sky.
Rafferty, in a statement released by the university, said only he was leaving for personal reasons. He did not elaborate.
"I came for the right reasons and leaving for the right reasons," Rafferty said in the statement. "As far as my career is concerned, the chance to come here is the best that could ever happen to me. At this time it is in the best interest of me and my wife that I leave."