COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech women’s basketball coach Amy Brown announced Tuesday that she is stepping down as head coach of the Golden Eagles in order to pursue other professional opportunities. Her resignation is effective Thursday (July 2).

Brown recently completed her third season as head coach and 13th season on the Tech staff. A national search will begin immediately to find Tech’s fourth women’s basketball head coach.

“Amy Brown has been a loyal, valued member of our department for over 13 years and she is a respected colleague,” said Mark Wilson, TTU Director of Athletics. “I wish her all the best in her future pursuits and thank her for her dedicated service to Tennessee Tech women’s basketball.

“Whatever opportunities she pursues, I know that she will be successful because she is a high quality person who works extremely hard,” Wilson said.

After serving as a member of the women’s basketball coaching staff for 10 years, first as an assistant then as an associate head coach, Brown took over the head coaching position in September 2006.

The Golden Eagles were 12-18 in her first season, finishing with a three-point loss on the road at Samford in the OVC Tournament. In 2007-08, Tech was 8-21 overall, winning five of the last nine regular season games in a late surge.

Last year, Brown guided the Golden Eagles on another run late in the year, winning five of the final seven regular season contests to earn a spot in the OVC Tournament. Tech took top-seeded Eastern Illinois to the limit in the first-round on the road, before falling by five points and wrapping up the year with a 9-21 overall mark.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to be at Tennessee Tech and work with the women’s basketball program for the past 13 years,” Brown said. “Much thought has gone into this decision, but I am going to pursue other professional options and opportunities. “With the administration that is in place, and with the players that we have in the program, I see a bright, bright future for the young ladies and where they are headed,” Brown said. “I look forward to watching and supporting the team and the entire athletic program at Tennessee Tech.”

During her 13 seasons on the Tech coaching staff, Brown was part of six OVC regular season championships and helped lead TTU to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in 1999 and 2000.

“I want to thank (University President) Dr. Bell and Mark Wilson, all the administrators and faculty, my assistant coaches as well as the players, for 13 great years,” Brown said.

“My heart will always be loyal to Tennessee Tech University and Tennessee Tech Athletics. I wish everyone nothing but the best,” she said.

A winner on the court during her playing days at Livingston Academy and Louisiana Tech, Brown was instrumental in the success of the Golden Eagles from the sidelines. She helped Tech claim five consecutive OVC championships between 1998 and 2002, followed with a sixth in the 2005-06 season.

A four-year starter for the nationally prominent Lady Techster program at Louisiana Tech, Brown graduated in 1996 with a B.S. in health and physical education. She received her Master’s from Tennessee Tech in instructional leadership.

At Livingston Academy, she was a member of USA Today’s Top 25 Super Team after averaging more than 20 points per game as a senior. She helped lead Livingston Academy to the 1990 Class AA State Championship and was named Miss Basketball in Tennessee as a senior.

During her playing career at Louisiana Tech, the Lady Techsters reached the NCAA tournament all four seasons and reached the championship game at the Final Four in 1994.