Dec. 21, 2007

LARAMIE, Wyo. -

University of Wyoming head volleyball coach Pat Stangle announced on Friday that he has decided to resign his position at the University of Wyoming to pursue other career opportunities. Stangle recently completed his fourth year as the head coach of the Cowgirl Volleyball program.

"I have appreciated the opportunities that have been provided to me by both the University and the Athletics Department during the last four years," said Stangle. "I would also like to thank my staff, players and all of those who have supported the program during my time here.

"I wish Wyoming Volleyball nothing but the best in the future."

"Pat has been a great ambassador for UW Athletics and for our university during his four years here," said UW Athletics Director Tom Burman. "He has enjoyed numerous successes during his coaching career and is highly respected by his peers. I know everyone in our athletics department wishes Pat, his wife Melissa and their family all the best in their future."

Stangle concluded his four years at Wyoming with a 50-59 (.459) overall record and a 26-36 (.419) record in the Mountain West Conference. The Cowgirls' highest finish in the Mountain West came in 2004 and 2006 when they placed fifth out of nine teams each of those years.

The year prior to coming to UW, Stangle was an assistant coach at the University of Washington where he helped lead the Huskies to the Elite 8 of the 2003 NCAA Tournament. As the head coach of Seward County Community College in Liberal, Kan., Stangle led Seward to the NJCAA Region VI Championship his final three seasons at the school (1999, 2000 and 2001). Seward placed fifth in the NJCAA National Tournament in both 1999 and 2000, and finished seventh in 2001.

Burman said that a national search would begin immediately for a new head coach, but that no specific timetable for filling the position would be established.