COURTESY PHOTO, Sports Info

After coaching the Tribe men's basketball team for the past six seasons, Head Coach Charlie Woollum stepped down today, much to the surprise of his team. The decision over who will replace Woollum as W&M's head coach has yet to be made.

After six seasons at the helm of the Tribe's men's basketball team, head coach Charlie Woollum is calling it quits. In a press conference Thursday afternoon, Woollum said he simply felt it was his time to retire.

"You get a gut feeling that your time has come," Woollum said. "Everybody, regardless of who you are, has to walk away from things ... I just felt like it was my time."

Including his time at W&M, Woollum has been coaching for a total of 38 years. He served as the head coach at Bucknell for 19 years before taking the reigns for his alma mater, the Tribe, in 1994.

Woollum amassed a 69-94 record as the coach of the Green and Gold and collected CAA Coach of the Year honors after the 1997-'98 campaign, when the Tribe shared the CAA regular-season crown.

"Six years ago, it was my honor to return to William and Mary in an attempt to rekindle interest in the basketball program. I feel that we have made great strides," Woollum said. "My goal was to make every game competitive. We've accomplished that. Every year here our kids have a chance to win. That's all a coach can ask for."

Athletic Director Terry Driscoll praised Woollum's commitment to the squad and to the community.

"With Charlie's retirement the College of William and Mary, the Colonial Athletic Association and intercollegiate basketball is losing a great coach and a better person," Driscoll said.

Although the Green and Gold found success under Woollum, last season was not one of their finest. The team ended the year with an 11-17 record and got knocked out of the CAA tournament in the first round. Despite the team's recent woes, Woollum said he felt confident about its prospects for next year.

"The program is on as firm a foundation as it can be. There is nothing but good things to look forward to in the future," he said.

Returning players were stunned by Woollum's decision.

"It was a shock to the whole team. We were just numb," junior guard Brian Brown said. Despite the shock, players were supportive of Woollum's decision.

"He explained himself and why he thought it was time to leave, time for him to move on to other things and spend time with his family," sophomore forward Bill Davis said.

"I think he is doing the best thing for himself," freshman center Adam Duggins said.

As for next season, the Tribe players plan to remain focused on their goals.

"I donšt think it [Woollum's retirement] will have a negative effect. It might bring us closer to keep building on what he wanted to do, restore a winning record and reach our goal of making it to the NCAAs," Davis said.

Returning captain Jim Moran, a junior, also said the Tribe would not be deterred. "We have a great nucleus. Everyone is coming back, and we are eager to get back to work," Moran said.

There has been no word yet on who will succeed Woollum, but support for assistant coach Mark Lezanic is widespread.

"He [Coach Lezanic] has the backing of a lot of players," Davis said.

Brown also added that he felt Lezanic, who has served as an assistant coach for the past 13 years, was the best candidate for the job. Perhaps the best endorsement Lezanic received was from Woollum himself.

"We've been together for almost 12 years. I think he is the man for the job," Woollum said. As for Woollum's future, he plans to "remain in the Williamsburg area and look forward to continuing to be a part of the William and Mary community."

"It's been a great six years," he said. "To come back here and have this opportunity was a great way to end my career."