Tuscaloosa, AL (My Sportsbook) - The University of Alabama announced the resignation of head basketball coach Mark Gottfried on Monday, effective immediately, following 10-plus seasons with the program.

Assistant coach Phillip Pearson was named interim head coach for the rest of the season.

"I accepted Coach Gottfried's resignation," Director of athletics Mal Moore said in a statement. "I respect Mark's decision and will begin immediately working on a permanent replacement. I agreed with him that it is in the best interests of the men's basketball program for us to move in a different direction. I want to extend my sincerest best wishes to Mark and his family, along with my personal thanks to Mark for his many years of dedicated service to our men's basketball program."

Gottfried, 45, agreed to a six-year contract worth $1 million annually in June 2005 and has led his alma mater to a 210-131 record through 19 games of this, his 11th, season as coach since taking over in 1998. He had two years remaining on the deal.

"My number one priority is to do what is best for the University of Alabama, this basketball program, and these young men," Gottfried said following a meeting with Moore. "Mal and I sat down today and we talked. At that point, I notified him of my intention to resign as head coach of the men's basketball program. I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity and the privilege to lead our men's basketball program at Alabama for the past 10 1/2 seasons. It has been a wonderful decade for me and my family, and I love the University of Alabama, but I feel that it is in the best interests of everyone involved."

Gottfried led the Crimson Tide to five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 2002-06 with an Elite Eight finish in 2004 being their best run in the annual tourney. He was named Associated Press and Southeastern Conference coach of the year in 2002 as the Crimson Tide posted their only SEC regular-season championship during Gottfried's tenure.

He spent three seasons as head coach at Murray State (1995-98) prior to joining Alabama. Gottfried has a career record of 278-155 in 14 seasons as a college head coach.

The Crimson Tide (12-7) began the year 10-3 but have since gone 2-4 including a 2-3 mark in SEC play. Pearson will make his coaching debut for the Crimson Tide on Thursday at Arkansas.