College Basketball

Charlotte parts ways with men's basketball coach Alan Major

Charlotte's head coach Alan Major, left, Willie Clayton (21), second from left, and Pierria Henry (15) react after a series of fouls are made late during the second half of their NCAA college basketball game against Richmond in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament Thursday, March 14, 2013, in New York. Henry hit eight free throws in the final five seconds of a wild start to the tournament, and Charlotte stunned Richmond 68-63. The Spiders, who led by 63-60 with 4.7 seconds to go, were called for three technical fouls as the 49ers took the lead from the foul line with the clock stopped.(AP Photo/John Minchillo)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — (AP) The Charlotte 49ers have announced they've mutually agreed to part ways with men's basketball coach Alan Major following a 14-18 season.

The announcement came Sunday night.

Major has twice been forced to leave the team in the past year due to medical issues involving his heart and eyes.

Charlotte will begin a national search for a replacement immediately.

Charlotte was 75-81 in five years under Major and never reached the NCAA Tournament.

Director of athletics Judy Rose says in a release that parting ways with Major was "an extremely difficult situation" and "we decided this was both in his best interest and the best interest of our program."

Major thanked the university for the opportunity, saying "this was the best decision to make at this time for my health."

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