Averett women's basketball head coach Larry Epperly has decided not to return next season.

Epperly, who is in his first season with Averett, informed his team and the Averett administration of his decision earlier this week and will continue to coach the Cougars until the end of this season, whenever that might be.

"Averett and I have mutually agreed that it is in the best interest of the program to announce at this time that I will not be returning as the women's basketball head coach beyond this season," Epperly said. "I would like to thank Averett University and Director of Athletics Sam Ferguson for the opportunity to coach these young ladies."

Epperly led Averett to a 4-0 start this season, the best start in program history. The Cougars are 7-5 overall and 3-3 in the USA South Conference entering Wednesday's home game with Methodist University.

Epperly was hired last August to replace Katrina Williams, who left just before the school year started to take an assistant coach position at Division I Radford. Epperly became the seventh coach in the program's history, which dates back 1983.

"When Coach Epperly and I talked in late August, we agreed to make this appointment on an interim basis, in order to determine whether or not this was a good fit," Ferguson said. "Unfortunately, Coach Epperly has decided to take his career in a different direction. He is a man that I have truly enjoyed working with and someone whom I respect tremendously. It was his wish to notify us now so that we have a sufficient amount of time to conduct a national search. That is exactly what we are going to do. We wish him well in his future endeavors and thank him for all he has done for Averett University."

Averett will open its search for a new coach immediately.

"I met with the team on Tuesday after Coach Epperly informed me of his decision," Ferguson said. "As part of our standard procedure, the players will have an active role in the search for our new head coach."