Houston Men's Basketball Coach Resigns After Six Seasons

By Justin Worsley

After a memorable season for the Cougars, which included earning a bid to their first NCAA tournament in 18 seasons, head coach Tom Penders announced his resignation today, stating that it was time for another challenge.

Penders took over the program in 2004 and has posted a 121-77 record. The Cougars are the fourth team Penders has taken to the national tournament, only seven other coaches have accomplished this feat.

"I came to the University of Houston in 2004 with the goal of getting UH back in the NCAA tournament," Penders told the Associated Press. "We achieved this goal and now it's time to move on."

Penders, 64, has developed a habit of taking struggling programs and building them into prominent contenders. Texas, George Washington University, Tufts, Columbia, Fordham and Rhode Island have all been a part of Penders 648 career wins.

Several programs could be calling Penders, who left Houston with two years remaining on his contract, including Fordham, who fired Dereck Whittenberg in Dec. due to numerous losses and an unusually large amount of transfers. Oregon could be another possiblity after firing head coach Ernie Kent last week.

Houston lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Maryland 89-77.