EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – UW-Eau Claire head men's basketball coach Kyle Green, who led the Blugolds this past season, has stepped down effective April 16, Director of Athletics Scott Kilgallon announced today.

"After thoughtful and spiritual reflection, my family and I have decided that it is in our best interest to move back to Iowa and continue our journey in a place we truly consider home," Green said. "I want to thank all of the people who have supported my family and the Blugold team. People make places great, and the people at UW-Eau Claire and in the Eau Claire community are truly special, helping make this past season wonderful. It is always bittersweet to leave a place that has left a lasting impression on your family. However, it is with great enthusiasm that our family looks forward to the future."

Green replaced former head coach Terry Gibbons on May 18, 2011, becoming just the ninth head coach in program history. Gibbons retired on March 31, 2011 after leading the Blugolds for 16 seasons.

During the 2011-12 season, Green guided the Blugolds to a 15-10 overall and 7-9 conference record, narrowly missing the WIAC Tournament. He had signature wins at UW-Oshkosh on Feb. 1, the Blugolds' first win at Oshkosh since Feb. 10, 1995, and against UW-Stevens Point on Feb. 18, a team the Blugolds had not beaten since Feb. 7, 2001.

"It was truly a blessing to have the opportunity to coach and teach such an outstanding group of young men who I know will continue to have great success moving forward," Green said. "I owe a special debt of gratitude to a first class group of assistant coaches who made this season one I will never forget and allowed me to have fun at work every day. The administration, led by Scott Kilgallon, was nothing but supportive and allowed us every opportunity to be successful both on and off the court."

"We want to thank Coach Green and his family for their contributions to the men's basketball program over the past year," Kilgallon said.

A national search for a new head coach will begin immediately.

-KM-